The coverage and availability of information and images in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have been extensive. Televised newscasts, special programming, Internet news sites, blogs, relief concerts, daytime programming and late night television gave widespread accessibility to information and opinions on this disaster and its repercussions. Many issues have been reported on and discussed throughout the coverage: such as race and racism, roles and responsibilities of government, funding priorities, safety, environmental issues and countless examples of heroism and tragedy.
For Discussion
- Which television, newspaper and Internet coverage provided the most useful and insightful background to this event? What criteria would you use to assess whether coverage is effective or not? What types of coverage would you consider not as useful?
- What are some of the challenges and/or limitations that journalists face in reporting on disasters?
- The news media was asked by U.S. officials not to take pictures of those killed by Hurricane Katrina. In an e-mail to the Washington Post, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesperson wrote, "The recovery of victims is being treated with dignity and the utmost respect and we have requested that no photographs of the deceased be made by the media."1
- Do you think there should be parameters on what can or cannot be shown in news reports?
- What are the consequences of Western news agencies showing explicit images of foreign tragedies?
- Can FEMA’s request be considered a form of censorship?
- Discuss the following statement by Rebecca Daugherty of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "You cannot report on the disaster and give the public a realistic idea of how horrible it is if you don't see that there are bodies as well."2
- Read Case Study: Photojournalism and Taste Concerns - Publish, Crop, or Photoshop? and discuss the issues, challenges and decisions for using graphic photos to accompany stories of a tragic nature.
- The term ‘refugee’ was commonly used in post-Katrina news reports to describe those who, unable to leave New Orleans, were surviving in shelters and needed assistance to evacuate after the flooding. Many survivors interviewed took offence at the use of this word. Typically, ‘refugee’ is used to describe those who seek refuge or asylum fleeing from political oppression or religious persecution.
- Often reporters have only a short time to explain a story or connect the audience to the topic. What challenges can this present to journalists in reporting an event? What challenges can it raise for their selection and use of language?
- Why do you think the word ‘refugee’ was used to describe post-hurricane evacuees?
- During the initial storm, media outlets in New Orleans abandoned television broadcasts and newsprint in favour of reporting primarily on the Internet.3
- Briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet as a news source.
- In what other ways can the Internet serve to help people in the days that follow a disaster? Can you think of ways in which it might not be helpful?
- Were there stories or pictures that you felt did not receive proper attention? If so, what may be some of the reasons for this under-representation?
- For further study, have students research news stories on Hurricane Katrina. Ask them to track the issues by the date they were published to see how the stories evolved as the days progressed. Citing specific examples from the stories they researched, have students answer the following questions:
- How did the topics surrounding Hurricane Katrina change as the events unfolded?
- What topics evolved into reoccurring themes?
- Were there examples of stories covered by one news media group which influenced later reports by other news groups? Which topics received the most coverage?
- Which topics had the most accompanying photos?
1 Deborah Zabarenko, "U.S. Censoring Katrina Coverage, Groups Say" Washington Post, September 8, 2005; Page C08, (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090702126.html?sub=new)
2 Washington Post, September 8, 2005
3 Steve Lohr and Felicia R. Lee, "Flooding Stops Presses and Broadcasts, So Journalists Turn to the Web" New York Times, August 31, 2005, Section A, page 10.
