MEDIA: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

In the wake of tragic events like the Boston bombings, the Sandy Hook School shooting and of course 911, we often look to the media for answers.  We tune-in incessantly to try and understand why one human being would go to the lengths they do to hurt others.  We revel in the heroic efforts of law enforcement, fireman, rescue teams, healthcare workers and closely monitor the performance of both our local leaders and those in Washington. It’s human nature.  

We watched the recent Boston bombings on our TVs, smartphones and tablets just minutes after they occurred. We saw the horror on people’s faces and felt the pain of those being hauled off into ambulances. We united as a nation for a few hours, connected by technology and a common cause.

Seeking out media in times of crisis is or our instinctive reaction. We want answers and comfort, and we want them as soon as possible.  We need to see the familiar faces of the journalists we’ve come to know and trust over the years and be reassured that we’re all going to be okay.  We read the expressions on their faces and closely monitor their emotions as they provide us updates on crisis situations that affect us all. We want to see first-hand that the authorities have contained the egregious acts and that they’re keeping us remote onlookers out of harm’s way. These all seem like good reasons to tune-in, because they are. However, we must all realize that the price we pay for this immediate and omnipresent access to media, is that we inadvertently increase the likelihood, frequency and scale of these events. 

By covering these stories, the media is indirectly providing these "crazies" with a distribution and marketing deal for their hate-filled productions.  Their sick minds get to revel in the fact that they can see their “work” in print, on TV and across the Internet. To these sociopaths, this public display is their blockbuster premiere. Each tear they see innocent people shed is an applaud. Each body bag they can claim responsibility for, a trophy akin to winning a Grammy, Emmy, Tony or Oscar.

Being a New Yorker all my life and having lost friends in 911, I know the pain being felt by so many Bostonians today.  Unfortunately the violation that they are feeling will remain with them for a lifetime and sadly Boston will wear the scar of this tragedy for eternity. However, it will go on. 

My heart goes out to every person, whether in the U.S. or abroad that has had to deal with a tragic loss at the hands of terrorism. These senseless deaths may never cease, but we as an industry must do what we can to at least govern this vicious, media-fueled cycle, and at the same time keep people well-informed to ensure their safety. It's a complicated, Catch 22, and I don't profess to have a remedy. However, despite the obvious temptations, maybe NOT making a movie called “MARATHON” or “THE LAST PATRIOTS DAY” with a bunch of “A-listers” and a multi-million dollar marketing budget would be a good start for us as an industry.

CONTACT CORY AT:
Cory Rosenberg
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631-608-4545