Accident Reporting and Absence of Humanity in Media

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Summary of the Article
Main Problem(s)
Recommended Resolution(s)
Case Study: Hartford Connecticut “Hit and Run”
Conclusion
References

Abstract

This memo attempts to highlight the issue of lack of humanistic perspective in accident reporting in the media. An article by Dragga and Voss has been discussed, and the recent case of ‘Hit & Run’ in Hartford has been taken into account as well. The problem of objectivity adopted by accident reporters and the decreasing moral fiber in the general public is discussed, and solutions are proposed for rectifying the identified problems.

Summary of the Article

It has been observed that the value of human life has decreased over the past few years. An article by Dragga and Voss provides insight into subject of loss of humanity and humanistic perspective in accident based reporting. The article points out how technical jargon and the accident itself is given more importance that the people who are injured or suffer fatalities as a result of the accident. The article by Dragga and Voss stated that NTSB accident reports tend to deprive the public from their identity due to the method in which the reporting is conducted and presented to the audience. This highlights the ethical problem of misrepresentation and distortion of facts and information which is equivalent to lying or not telling the truth to the public. Therefore the limited perspective of the objectivity and impartiality has to be changed into a more humanistic perspective.

Main Problem(s)

The problem that is being faced nowadays and is highlighted in the article by Dragga and Voss is the absence of humanity in public media. Moreover it has also been felt that the sensitivity of the people towards the plight of others in need is also diminishing resulting in an immoral and unethical society. To an extent the two problems are related, as it is argued that the objective attitude adopted by people in the media and the reporting of accidents tends to desensitize the audience which is in turn affects the moral statuette of the general public.

The media does not have a humanistic perspective in terms of its reporting and the general public is also as a result becoming oblivious and insensitive to others around them who may need help and assistance. In the long run this problem can develop multiple facets as the younger generation of the population might become more oblivious to the need of the unfortunate, injured and underprivileged which will result in increasing the gap between the fortunate and the unfortunate people.

Recommended Resolution(s)

There are multiple ways through which the problems of objectivity and impartiality adopted by these reporting accidents as well as the decreasing moral duties and responsibilities of the general public can be tackled. The humanistic perspective can be increased in the reporting of accidents by providing fatality and injury counts according to the demographics of the casualties of the accident. Moreover additional information on the people who are suffering or effected as a result of the accident can also be provided to the audience through adoption of a less partial attitude. A simple graph and tables can be provided to comprehensively depict the kind of casualty, the origin of the injured and dead as well as their specific demographics.

Social responsibility can be increased in the general public by initiating public awareness programs which highlight the plights of the unfortunate and those in need of aid and support. These programs can be launched by the regional governments on a state as well as a city level. Active participation should be sought form the public in order to promote moral element in them. In order to be more progressive it can also be made mandatory for high school students to attend these programs. Additional credit can be provided for attendance to the high school and college students.

Case Study: Hartford Connecticut “Hit and Run”

The Hartford case study is based on one such incident where people in a street ignored the plight of a hit & run victim who lay conscious and bleeding out on the road. This depicts the absence of moral fiber and humanity in the people, when they refused to help the injured victim fearing their involvement in the incident might end up harming them.

The fact that the incident took place in a working class neighborhood which was busy with office workers returning from work increased the insensitivity depicted by the people witnessing the incident. The injured victim was not picked up and provided aid until after a significant time has passed resulting in the situation turning more horrific in terms of the immorality and lack of consideration depicted by the people residing in the region as well as those commuting to an from the neighborhood.

Conclusion

The changing aspects of human responsibility can be made positive by implementing active and realistic social programs though which the general public can be made aware of the erosion of humanity and moral fiber and the media can contribute to this by reporting incidents and accidents through a humanistic perspective

References

Draaga, S., Voss, D.W., (2003), Hiding Humanity: Verbal and Visual Ethics in Accident Reports, Web.

Singer, S., (2008), Video shows bystanders ignoring hit-and-run victim, Yahoo News, Web.

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