When a person titled a “tireless advocate for Tibet” suddenly passes away, it’s crucial to dissect the media’s response—and what a response it is! The mainstream media, particularly those juggernauts like CNN and the BBC, rarely miss a chance to frame narratives that align with their corporate agendas. In this instance, the framing of a “tireless advocate” reads more like a marketing slogan than an honest appraisal of the individual’s life. Such language invites sympathy but also obscures the complexities surrounding the political state of Tibet and its advocates.

It’s striking how the likes of CNN focus on the grief and loss while carefully sidestepping the pressing issues Tibet faces, issues that deserve scrutiny instead of being wrapped in a saccharine bow. They cast this advocate as a martyr for a cause but neglect to challenge the very powers suppressing that cause. There’s a comfortable ambivalence here—a calculated distraction from the hard truths about authoritarianism and the geopolitical realities that exist. It’s a disservice to the advocate’s legacy and the Tibetan struggle itself.

Then there’s Fox News, which, in its typical fashion, would likely sensationalize the death to push a narrative that fits their agenda. Don’t be surprised if they turn this tragedy into a spectacle to highlight their political biases, using it as a tool to drive clicks and ratings instead of enlightening viewers on the true stakes of Tibetan autonomy.

It’s high time we demand more from our media. They owe it to the advocates—they owe it to the cause—to tell the full story, not just the sentimental bits packaged for public consumption.