Domesticky

The news isn’t broken. It’s not a loose cannon. It’s not a chaotic mess because journalists just can’t get their stories straight. No, it’s far more sinister than that.

It’s a well-oiled machine with a singular purpose: to uphold the interests of the powerful, maintain the capitalist status quo and drown out inconvenient truths.

The Western press is a mess by design. Deliberately, calculated and meticulously managed. Curated chaos.

And nowhere is this more evident than in how it covers Gaza.

A Deliberate Cacophony

Since the Nakba in the 1940s, when over 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes, the story of Gaza has been one of systematic oppression, violence, and survival.

Massacres, forced removals, and ongoing apartheid conditions. Each decade bringing more loss, more grief, more death. Yet, Western media consistently frames this ongoing catastrophe as a series of tragic but isolated events. They’re reported as conflicts, clashes, unfortunate skirmishes. Never for what they truly are: state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing.

Headlines vs. Reality

It’s one thing to be intentionally misleading, but quite another to maintain the illusion of balance while reporting on one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of our time.

In the UK, the BBC – one of the world’s most trusted news sources – has faced accusations of blatant bias in its coverage of Gaza.

Over 100 BBC staff members recently penned a letter criticising the broadcaster for its failure to provide accurate, evidence-based journalism and for leaning towards a pro-Israel narrative.

Their complaints include omitting Palestinian perspectives and using language that downplays the severity of Israeli actions.

The Guardian, while attempting to maintain a more balanced perspective, has also faced criticism. It highlighted the alarming statistic that more than 170 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, making it the deadliest conflict zone for media workers in recent history.

Despite this, The Guardian has not escaped controversy – most notably when it dismissed long-time cartoonist Steve Bell over accusations of antisemitism for his portrayal of Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, the UK’s red tops – tabloids like the Mirror and the Independent – muddy the waters further, often using sensationalist headlines that frame the violence as two-sided, equally matched conflict rather than the disproportionate onslaught it truly is.

Their coverage consistently amplifies Israeli perspectives while diminishing the suffering of Palestinians, thereby shaping public opinion in a dangerously skewed direction.

Take the recent escalation of violence in Gaza as an example. While entire families were wiped out in airstrikes, while hospitals were bombed, the Western press carefully crafted headlines to maintain the illusion of balance.

US outlets reported on the “conflict” as though it were two equal sides having a squabble rather than one of the most heavily militarised nations on Earth attacking a population with no army, no air force, no navy.

Compare that to the UK press: headlines using passive voice to sanitise atrocities—’Violence Erupts in Gaza’ rather than ‘Israeli Forces Bomb Civilian Shelters.’

The press machine knows how to pivot from the uncomfortable reality to the safe narrative that maintains public support for political allies.

Who Owns the Story?

Who controls the narrative? The same corporations that have a stake in war and instability. Media conglomerates owned by billionaires whose portfolios include arms manufacturers, oil interests, and defense contracts. The press, far from being a watchdog of democracy, has become its most polished PR arm.

The Colonial Boomerang

Why should the West care? Because the colonial chickens are coming home to roost. The control of narratives that justifies oppression abroad also molds minds at home—keeping populations compliant, fearful, and easily manipulated.

The same machine that warps the story of Gaza teaches Western citizens that dissent is dangerous, that to question the capitalist structure is to destabilise society itself.

What Is the Press For?

The press should be about truth-telling, about holding power to account. Instead, it’s a cage where stories go to be tamed, dressed up, and sent out as propaganda. It’s not the chaotic, brave mess it pretends to be.

It’s a deliberate machine – a mess only for those who can see past the carefully arranged chaos.

What Next?

We can’t rely on mainstream narratives. We have to build our own, ask hard questions, and resist the urge to look away when the truth is unpalatable.

Instead of reacting to the clickbait, divisive headlines, choose not to engage at all—or, if you must, question them.

Look past the surface and go digging for the real story.

Find reputable, trustworthy sources and champion them.

Most importantly, stay kind. Look for the helpers – those who are actively making a difference – and amplify their voices.

In a world where the press serves power, storytelling becomes a radical act of resistance.