Responsibility of the Media (Essay Sample)

Responsibility of Media During Times of Crisis
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Abstract
The purpose of this report is to review examines how the media is expected to conduct itself in the event of a crisis. Following the terrorist attack that occurred on the US in September 11th 2001, there was need to understand how the media is expected to report in the event of such a crisis. It includes information on how the media handled the crisis situation in its reporting. The report concerns the need to understand the role of media. Based on the events that were witnessed after the attack, this report examines the challenges the media faced. Also, this paper outlines the responsibility of the media to the public, the development process that the media underwent through following the attack, the constraints that affect the media and recommendations on the steps media should take in future.
Introduction
On September 11th 2001, the world awoke to news that a terrorist attack had occurred in the U.S, with a significant number of casualties presumed dead. This horrific act resulted in one of the most covered media events of all time in the advent of the global civilian satellite links. A picture broadcast showing massive smoke from the Twin Towers, which had stood as an unmistakable landmark on the New York skyline for decades, completed with the phrase, "US Attacked" was as clear as any media house could have painted the picture.
The entire world was struck with an uncontrollable burst of emotions, ranging from fear to hatred. Media was inevitably tasked with the challenging job of helping people understand the events that were taking place and provide them with a wide perspective of analyzing what may have sparked such a catastrophe. It was considerably difficult to analyze and report on such an atrocity as the entire world was still struggling to absorb the events that were unfolding. However, despite this, the media gunned up all their forces and immediately begun a worldwide coverage on the unfolding events. This immediate response and reporting however fell to a considerable amount of criticism.
Desire to beat competition between media houses was quite evident. Each media competed on who would take the lead in providing raw and exclusive footage. Many a time this raw footage lacked proper censorship, exposing gruesome images to viewers. Most of the media houses were running repeated footage of the plane crashing into the second tower, as interviewing and reporting proceeded. This raised the question of social censorship guidelines that media houses were confined to as the images were traumatizing, causing more harm to the viewers than the intended purpose of informing and warning them of the imminent danger.
Access to accurate and timely information became a vital element in the response to such a catastrophe. The media was entitled with the task of fetching and conveying detailed and precise information to the public, informing them of the next course of action which was critical during the life-saving scenarios, hence enabling them to make informed decisions on the way forward.
The Role of media
In times of such crisis, the media always has the capacity of shaping the public opinion as well as taming the possible chances of adverse public influence. In such times however, the media are mandated to act within their professional ethics and code of conduct; otherwise the situation may end up coming out of hand. In their highest capacity, the media can educate the society, promote tolerance, protect and promote human rights. Moreover, it’s their mandate to ensure accountability and transparency of facts to calm down a particular situation; by airing the pros and cons of a particular situation. In so doing, it will discard information that can peddle fear, division, and violence among the people.
Research analysts indicate that, after the September 11th attack, the media, when rated, did not score well in an attempt to create a harmonious social cohesion among the people of the US and the world. Numerous reports indicate that senior government officials attempted to engineer reports to be generated by the media and media let itself be used in a manner that seemed to castigate a certain race of people as terrorists. It was unable to put forward a clear explanation of the circumstances that preceded such a heinous act and as a result, there occurred a vicious cycle of hatred among the people. In the coming months, there was a widespread a fallacy mindset that made the people each other as suspects rather than brothers and sisters faced with a common problem. This heightened intolerance resulted from the fear and mistrust.
Most often, in post-conflict societies, it is the responsibility of the media to provide information that can mediate between the state and all the civil society’s facets. In countries with strong democracies and social cohesion, media support has been a critical prong for enhanced free flow of information. This helps in increasing development of a civil society that is socio-politically active. Consequently, it provides a rationale for media programming on the relevant issues of peace and societal tolerance, all these are aimed at creating an atmosphere of personal responsibility among the community for their actions.
Media Development
The events of the September 11th attack pinpointed major loopholes that still exist in the media industry; such as over-reliance on government agencies for information in case of a crisis. This striking realization prompted the need for media fraternity to put more efforts on their investigative wing, so as to ensure they acquire first-hand information and relay it to the public. To achieve this however, media houses need to lay out well defined objectives for media development. Such objectives should be geared towards moving the media from that which is directed and regulated by the government or private interests, to one which is independent and geared towards serving the public interest and through this, the media is destined to acquire a meaningful role in determining the course of information access and security alert.
The mediation processes that followed after the September 11th incident resulted in the development of the media sector that aids in domestic security. This was successful through the establishment of an independent editorial team, with plural and diverse voices and financial viability to serve the public interests. Also, the design of media support activities aimed at providing security alerts in situations like that of the September 11th attack was initiated. These support activities relied on an analysis of those who can communicate in the society, those who have access to communication means and to the recipients of the information.
The understanding of such orientations of the state and the society would in the long run assist in the positive understanding of what shapes the public debate in terms of security interests and needs and ensures the ability to publish and broadcast alternative viewpoints in an objective manner. Through this, early access to intelligent information that could necessitate a prior arrangement to be made by the security personnel in a bid to avert the incidence of a terrorist attack could be enabled.
During the September 11th attack, media was the primary source of information dissemination. The whole world depended upon it for briefs on the further unfolding and rescues. It formed an integral part and mouthpiece for the whole world in sharing their pains and condolences with those who were bereaved and injured in the disaster. It aided in increasing the flow of information in regions, and increased the knowledge of the events as they were unfolding. Through the media, skills on how one can respond to situations were imparted. Such skills aided in increasing professional contacts that are important in the civic awareness creation, hence development of a secure society.
The strategies involved in the development of the media sector for the promotion of peace and security since the September 11th attack involved a number of steps which included:
* Identification of the problem
* Identifying targets of opportunities
* Assessing the feasibility of activities.
Through direct funding, either by the government or private owners, efforts to enhance media effectiveness since the September 11th attack enabled the media to develop on issues it previously experienced. Arising from this, issues that had previously plagued the media were tackled effectively ensuring a socio-economic prosperity of every race, regardless of the nation.
There has been a design of the media sector support strategy which involves the analysis of the risks for the adoption of an appropriate approach. Such approaches include;
* Reforming of the legal environment
* Increasing access by removing the barriers
* Building the constituencies for transition
* Training
For the achievement of an effective media sector that advances the peaceful coexistence of all nations and all races, media programs have been redesigned to undertake a combination of a holistic mix of activities. Such activities would include the investigative part of journalism which has been previously developed. This has enabled the public to understand the security concerns as well as the socio-economic constraints that have to be solved through peaceful mechanisms, rather than through terrorism.
When used effectively, media successively helps in building peace and social cohesion in the public without which the society cannot flourish. It tends to acts as a mediation mechanism for the warring groups through representations so that they can negotiate their differences peacefully. The media in some cases has been used by political elites to promote discord and reinforce prejudice an...