The Oh So Proverbial Media Earthquake

As we first learned about the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that rattled through Japan on March 11, we all watched, our heads glued to the computers and television screens, hovering over them like hawks. Just on their own, the words "earthquake" and "tsunami" automatically triggered widespread memories of the disaster zones in Indonesia and Haiti. And the word “nuclear!” In itself, the idea of graphic explosions and apocalypses has always just been something for a day at the movies. But to actually watch it all unfold? Pure news gold. And here’s the best part—you don’t even need to put on any pants to watch the glory and adventure jump at you! Let me emphasize—NO PANTS!

Don’t get me wrong. This literally world-changing earthquake, one responsible for shifting Earth’s axis by four inches, is responsible for killing thousands of people, injuring thousands more, and leaving even more homeless, poverty-stricken, and with little place to turn. Many crucial services, such as those for providing electricity and mass transportation to millions, have been left decentralized and useless. Help is needed, and it will continue to be needed for quite some time in order to ensure that the people of Japan can get their lives back on track. (How to Help: Japanese Red Cross, American Red Cross)

But to watch today’s news broadcasts, and those of the past two weeks, is to recognize the ongoing role of speculation in the media.

"If you are only following the way Western media is reporting on the current situation in Japan regarding the earthquake, one might get the impression that the entire Japan is collapsing, or melting down, or falling,” Eiko Doden, senior commentator for Japanese broadcast network NHK, told Channel News Asia. "But that is not the reality."

Whether the reason for such sheer journalistic irresponsibility is out of pure stupidity or out of desperation to grab the attention of average viewers, many of whom are content on switching to that "According To Jim" rerun if they don’t see Fox News or CNN reporting live from Armageddon, is unclear. And at this stage in our media game, it doesn’t matter. Regardless, news outlets are turning the act of speculation into news, skipping out on fact-checking for the purpose of glorifying the pedestals on which they stand.

The issue has become so prominent that Japanese residents and keen American news viewers have created a "Journalist Wall of Shame" webpage within their online forum, JPQuake, to point out acts of careless reporting in regards to the disaster. Such journalistic violations, as discussed in the forum, include a report from Mike Hedge of the Australian Associated Press that calls Japanese citizens "oblivious" to the ongoing dangers of their situation (click here to see report). Also, in related news, The Daily Mail ran a story entitled "UN Predicts Nuclear Plume Could Hit U.S. by Friday" (click here to see report). Clearly, you can be the judge of that.

"Undoubtedly, it's not in anyone's interest to see exaggerated reporting during a situation of this severity, where the cost of public panic is so high,” said Leo Lewis, a correspondent for The Times of London who has spent considerable time covering Japan both before and after the earthquake. “But that same severity should also not forgive a lack of vigilance," he said.

While it’s true what they say about variety being the spice of life, next to the salt and pepper shakers, there needs to be some sort of consensus made between the media and the viewer. Past flaws related to coverage of this crisis, among other similar stories, must be acknowledged, and citizens must come together to finally formulate and support a way of rebuilding honest, well-angled reporting. Perhaps the "Journalist Wall of Shame" is a step in the right direction, but everyday followers of the media, especially those who are able to prioritize their news coverage, need to be consistent and fight for quality and representation, even if no one else will.