Joe Bloggs

Hmm. Terribly disappointing indeed. And now it's moved all the way down to regional headlines while the Israeli story stays top billing.

Joe, good to have you back, even on such a tragic note.

If it helps you feel any better, the Uganda story didn't even make Reuters - at least as shown by My Yahoo!

I remember thinking at the time of your blog on the lynchings of blacks in America that - although the reminders are necessary - the book and all the surrounding material would have been a political keg of dynamite for outraged "respectable citizens" if the subjects (the lynched) had been whites.
The travesty of justice in the Lawrence murder case is a good point in question that becomes acutely embarrassing when juxtposed with the "national sobbing" for the ex-princess Diana who swilled at a 5-star hotel before meeting her demise without the simple precaution of a seatbelt whereas Stephen Lawrence was battered to death at a bus stop for "simply" being black.
Likewise the BBC's web line up is geared to caucasian needs and will more often than not consciously or subconsciously give preference to something "white" - namely, maintain the detestable habit of keeping Africa and other non-white realms in the "sub" bracket.

I saw this story roll off the front page, and even roll off the African headlines on the Africa page. Though it did reappear later on the front page. Africa's short shrift really is a sad situation. You'd expect the BBC to do better and I feel sure their TV News did give it greater prominence. At least I hope so.

I wasn't in Britain during the Stephen Lawrence murder case, but I do remember being impressed by the outburst of public opinion (whatever the result of the actual court case) against the murder and the perpetrators. Though as you point out Martin, can you imagine the outrage if those lynchings I posted about had been black on white rather than the other way, or if Stephen Lawrence had been white and his killers black. Doesn't bear thinking about.