Media

Media and broadcasting companies insinuate and choose when they desire to be beneficial and report the news appropriately; they determine when they wish to be passive and report the information as a mere fact, as an incident that does not concern the majority of the people. In current news and broadcasting, reporters raise issues that concern the local people or strictly address affairs that are relevant to national security. They raise awareness only when they feel it is a national problem, or when innumerable persons are involved in a disaster. When such matters do arise the media is an excellent source to educated citizens of the dilemma at hand and inform them of the hazards and risks. In such cases the media follows up with the event and some broadcasters even go far enough to critique the government of its decisions and actions.

In 2007, a massacre that took place at Virginia Technology University sent the nation into a shock. The tragedy overcame the community with great sorrow, as the rest of the nation became terrified. Reporters flooded the scene, and over-whelmed the students and parents with questions. However, as Bluestein explains in such cases the media failed to illustrate and report the “big picture”; it compels the audience to narrow their perspective “to one little corner of the picture… neglecting the millions of other details”. Journalists reveal such events as mere facts. They report that 33 people died and that families were devastated. However, they fail to relate the event to those that were not affected. They tend to create an illusion that these events only pertain to those in the region. Another example of such a situation took place in Northern Illinois University. Five people were killed and 16 injured, however, because the murder had killed himself the news failed to elaborate and portray the “big picture”.

As Hurricane Katrina overcame the costal regions of Louisiana many lives were destroyed. This level 5 hurricane not only affected those near the coast but also nearby states. Many states had to prepare to receive hundreds of refugees escaping the horrifying storm. The news utilized every source it had to encourage help and support from outside. For such cases and disasters and incidences, the media influences and “plays an important role in convincing Governments and citizens to invest in disaster reduction” (Source A). During this extreme difficulty for the nation as a whole the media presented the public with images and stories that persuaded and inspired communities nation wide to contribute to the aid and support. ISDR explains that in such cases educating the nation through the media reduces the risks and alerts the people of their surroundings. In addition, through such significant times journalist and reporters tend to act more “aggressive” and critical (Source F). “Press corps seems to have caught the White House public relations team off balance” reports an article on Hurricane Katrina. When people became aware of the innumerable death toll, journalist began to ask questions as it became obvious that the Bush Administration had not acted quickly. It had not provided sufficient help or aid on the federal level. As a result for the first in several years reporters and news broadcasters began to critique and criticize national security for its lack of organization, support and aid to the Katrina victims. On the other hand, when a devastating earthquake killed thousands of people in Pakistan, reports of the incident were reported as if it were fictional. Reporters did not emphasize on the matter and failed to relate