Coverage of Deaths in Africa and Mideast

The Times would be wise to explain its policy regarding coverage on the deaths of innocent people around the world. On Aug. 11, on Page A8, there is a brief note that 75 innocent people, including women and children, were hacked to death in a turf war involving the deaths of over 2 million people in the Congo. This war, with its staggering loss of life, has gone largely unreported in the U.S. media, which seem more focused on the Middle East.

When we turn to Page A19, we see a much larger and more detailed article on the unfortunate death of one Israeli woman in the West Bank. While all killing of innocents is terrible and newsworthy, it does not explain why The Times devotes more attention to the death of one Israeli woman over the deaths of 75, or 2 million, Africans. A newspaper with worldwide coverage should display some sense of proportionality in covering the deaths of innocent humans.

Devan Mullins

Newport Beach