On September 11, 2001, I walked into my living room to see the TV turned to news coverage of the attack on the World Trade Center. On December 14, 2012, I was sitting in the Manchester airport waiting for my plane back home for winter break when the airport TVs turned to coverage of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting. Both of these national tragedies happened in places nowhere near where I was, and the only way I was able to find out about either event was through the instant media coverage.
Through the media – newspapers, television, computers – the world is more connected and people have a greater ability to know what goes on in the world. Without the media, finding out what happened on 9/11 or in Newtown would have taken much longer and been much more difficult. Although the media is criticized for its constant updating and focus on certain events, it is a necessary forum for people to have access to. Having 24/7 media coverage of events allows for a country to be unified in its knowledge of itself. The media provides a way for people to be connected; in times of tragedy it allows for people to see what is going on and what the situation is. Through its ability to quickly locate and compile information the media keeps the public updated as quickly as possible.
Media coverage during times of tragedy is a necessity. Through the media, not only is the public kept aware but they are better able to reach out to those affected. By providing the public with information to things such as hotlines, relief programs, and further ways of help the media aides us in our ability to come together and respond to the world around us.
As a result of their constant coverage of the world the media plays a huge role in what we know and understand. Although we hope that tragic events do not ever happen the reality is that they do; the role the media plays in what we know and how much we know is a key part in our understanding and response. Through the media’s information people in all different places are able to be aware of what is going on – a right they should have. Overall, I believe that the media helps us in our attempt to understand and make sense of what is going on in the world by providing us with a constant knowledge of what is happening.
