Quote
Originally posted by: Warbler
Quote
Originally posted by: ADigitalMan

2) Since the news media CAN seem to get into the area, why can't they put down their high-and-mighty objective coverage and actually get involved with the relief effort? If you're getting into the area to cover it, bring some damn food and water to share while you're at it. Don't just take pictures of people dying, do something to help them. These are your fellow citizens who granted you that first amendment. Journalistic ethics my ass -- what's ethical about a policy of non-involvement when fellow citizens are dying in front of your very eyes?

Here the problem with what you ask. If the media people drop their cameras and etc to help these people, they can't cover it. And then we will have no idea what's going on down there. Also it is a question of ethics once you get involved, how can you give non biased coverage? Tell me without the media covering this, do you think as many people would be giving blood and donating food, water and supplies? I doubt it. Unless there is no other way, the media should stay out of it and give non biased coverage. It is important we are able to stay informed about the situation. If however someone is going to die and there is no one else around who can help and no other way, then they should give assistance.

I think the media is helping by showing the world what's going on. Otherwise, it wouldn't have as much impact and people wouldn't donate money. If it wasn't for the media reporting, those people would still be waiting for help that would probably never come at all. Also, some news persons are actually doing some work there and helping people out. A local reporter who is based in the US was sent to New Orleans to report it, and he interviewd this woman who was under a bridge, crying. She said their family was still at home, but she couldn't reach them, and they couldn't reach her. So the reporter got her into the news van, they went there with an improvised boat and found her family, got back with all of them, got all of them into the news van and drove to some place else. Of course it was done in a journalistic way, but it actually helped someone.