Sounding the Alarm

Descriptive Essay # 115083

Communication > Journalism
Computer and Technology > Networks
Hot Topics > Terror and 9/11

Sounding the Alarm

The paper discusses journalism before and after September 11,2001.

1,402 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper gives a brief explanation of what it is like in a newsroom, noting that it is disorganized, noisy, and somber. In particular, the paper describes how journalists adopted a different perspective of their job after September 11, 2009. According to the paper, before September 11 2001, news people were supposed to pay attention for us, write as an outsider observing the happenings around them, and be neutral and impartial. After September 11, however, journalists became pastoral, compassionate and helpful. The paper also tells us that the way photographs are taken has also changed and that the online media is being used far more nowadays.

From the Paper:

"Photographs portrayed family members placing flowers on memorials, the horrified faces of citizens watching a newscast, and rescue workers fighting to save lives. Barbi Zelizer said that "photography's suddenly potrayed people looking at the site without evidence of the site itself." This use of photojournalism is normally said to lack newsworthiness but it was used strongly during the attacks. The photography was greatly applauded by the media because it had the power to "shape the response to the attacks." An organizer from a photograph exhibit stated that "the photographs are the memorial to September 11th. Although the vent was horrid, September 11th was said to have changed the meaning of photojournalism.Yet, since the attacks, nothing in the journalism world was changed as much as the online media. Just hours after the event, the entire world wanted answers. Civilians needed to know who was responsible, if it was an accident, or if people were getting out safely. Where else to turn to than the Internet?"