How much coverage is too much coverage with tragedy?

Marc Krauss
mk155806@ohio.edu

As a journalist, I think sometimes it is way too easy to get caught up in just trying to do your job. With all the stresses that come with finding and reporting on a story and making sure you nail it before that deadline, it is easy to become a little desensitized toward your subjects. 

In the readings this week, we were exposed to some examples of that. The NewsLab story that flipped the roles and allowed the subjects affected by some type of tragedy to sound off on their experiences with the media really opened my eyes to how they were treated. Some people that were tragically involved in news stories one way or another all had media flooding their personal lives. It was tough to read some of their experiences with the media, especially regarding the families that had lost loved ones. They were just trying to get through their grieving process, yet the reporters just wanted something to satisfy their editors or producers with at the end of the day. 

This father who lost a young daughter writes that he wants to have a law put in place that keeps media from invading privacy during times of grief. If you really think about it, the reporters are just doing what they are told, and that a lot of the blame really falls on those editors and directors. They should understand that the families do not want cameras shoved in their face soon after tragic times. If a tragedy were to happen in their life, would they like to be thrown into the spotlight? I would say that their answer would have to be no. 

I found some tips that seemed helpful for reporting on not just the people involved with these tough times but with the entire breadth of the story as well.

When tragedy strikes, how should the media respond?

Some steps that could help combat disrupting family grievances, and something I would definitely employ if I ever get the chance, would be to make sure no one tries to track down or contact the family at all. I know that you want soundbites or tidbits from them, but they need the necessary time to come to grips on reality. For some it could be two days and others two months. Everyone is different. 

Instead, try reaching out to a neighbor or maybe a family relative, someone less involved yet close to the family to be your "middle man," so to speak. Ask them if they would please touch base with the hurt family, to see if they are at all interested in talking to your news station. This way instead of some random news reporter calling them or ringing the doorbell, it is a trusted friend of the family. And if they do not want to talk, then you respect their privacy and allowed them to do what they must to grieve. 

From there you find other ways to cover the story. But you could also have that family get in touch with you (on their time), because they want their side of the story heard or a cause of theirs to now be heard. This way you can become an ally, instead of an enemy or nuisance. I feel the key thing to remember in how to deal with tragedy is how would you feel if it was your family that was affected? If you ask yourself that question, you will be able to sensitize yourself and put things back into perspective.