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Media HateWatch UK 11.02.03: Express using scary headlines, intros and pictures over straight stories
11 February 2003   papers   UK
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Media HateWatch UK 11.02.03 AnotherDaily Express where headlines over reletively straight stories are used to scare people and bias them against asylum seekers

The Daily Express 11.02.03 page 8 headline of story in strap above main headline playing on the asylum seekers equals scroungers theme

Handouts are our right, say migrants

Intro: Asylum seekers demanded the right to be kept on state handouts yesterday in a landmark legal case which could cost the taxpayer millions.

Six refugees launched a High Court challenge to the Governments latest crackdown, claiming it breached their human rights

The story is accompanied by picture of an asylum seeker facing the front, but with only his eyes showing. The rest of the head is obscured by a hat or scarf on the top, with the rest of the head tucked down inside the collar of the coat, presumably an indication that he is too ashamed or afraid to be recognised. The caption reads: COY: an illegal immigrant hides his face. Though there is no verification that this is an asylum seeker, illegal or not, nor where the picture was taken, or indeed of whom

The paper then explains that this High Court challenge is to new government laws which make it harder for migrants to claim benefits if they do not apply for asylum as soon as they reach the UK, and that the Government wants these laws to cut claims from so-called bogus asylum seekers, because apparently, genuine asylum seekers would apply as soon as they arrive.

Apart from the spin in the headline and intro the rest of the report is unexceptional

The main story on the page is again a relatively straight coverage of Government attempts to tighten the screws even further on asylum applicants. However the headline is again used to demean asylum seekers and further the Express campaign for all applicants to be detained: Asylum Lock-up