The Media's Coverage of the Tsunami

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that, while many have argued that the media's coverage of the Asian tsunami has had a positive humanitarian effect, this is not entirely true. The paper explains that the media covered the tsunami because of its dramatic and profitable nature and, despite arguments to the contrary, the "CNN effect" is not the primary factor behind the aid donations, whether from governments or individuals. The paper claims that, in addition, it negatively impacted the organization and distribution of aid and humanitarian relief.

From the Paper:

"The media is a profit making business and not a humanitarian one. Its aim is not to promote interest in the affairs of other people and countries or to communicate information about humanitarian and natural disasters that require action and attention. Instead, the media main guideline in selecting stories is whether or not they will attract the attention of viewers and increase rating. This might seem to be a very hard judgment against the media, especially when it played such a profound role in attracting global attention to the humanitarian disaster caused by the tsunami, significantly aiding the collection of donations but, according to media experts, this is a fair judgment. Interestingly, this is the judgment passed against the media by an American media corporation known as PBS."

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