Will satire lose its religious punch following Charlie Hebdo attack?
Media consumers often spew vitriol online, but they're not afraid to take things further and make their hatred/unease/intolerance known. Not by a long shot. That's why online media from around the world is currently leading with the breaking story of France being placed on the 'highest of high alerts', following a shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo.
Who do you think would see these satirical #charliehebdo covers & decide to pop round with guns & rocket launchers pic.twitter.com/2933sIQeOM
- Dave Wibberley (@davewibberley) January 7, 2015Charlie Hebdo has been in the spotlight in previous years for its satirical treatment of the Muslim community, with the NYTimes reporting: "Its offices were firebombed in 2011 after publishing a cartoon of the prophet on its cover promising "100 lashes if you don't die laughing!"
This is set to dominate headlines for a while as it's such a shocking case - watch this space...
For more:
- Mail & Guardian: Gunmen open fire at French satirical newspaper
- Daily Mail: Eleven dead after gunmen armed with rocket launchers and Kalashnikovs storm offices of French satirical newspaper at centre of Prophet Mohammed storm
- BBC: Charlie Hebdo attack - latest
- NYTimes: Gunmen in Paris Stage Deadly Attack on Offices of Satirical Newspaper