Reporting the hurricane aftermath

[SteveD]

Switch on the TV and you will see harrowing on-th-spot reports of the situation in New Orleans, Biloxi etc.

How do these people (reporter, camerman) get in and out of these places?  Surely every single car, helicopter or other means of transport should be used to help those suffering?

[georgit79]

I always think exactly the same thing. If they can get in and out, surely they can get others out too?

[january_bug]

I can only think of one reason, and it sounds stupid, but it might be true... small helicopters!  Seriously, those rescuse choppers are HUGE and have winching equipment and all sorts on board.  Perhaps the media helicopters are just very small and don't have winching equipment. 

Re other means of transport, and the point generally, whilst I have a huge amount of sympathy for the people affected, and I hope that the rescuse efforts and clean up process can be speedy and effective, I do think there is some value in recording these things.  If one thinks back to the Tsunami 18 months ago, international charities would never have raised so much aid money to help the local people, had the pictures not been on TV over in Europe and the Americas.  Perhaps that's a sad thing, but it's true - we need pictures before we're prompted into action when it comes to natural disasters.  The worse it cn be demonstrated to be, the more money we'll give (between us) and of course logically that's good... for the worse it is, the more money is needed. 

In the long run, it's arguable that more lives will be saved by showing these pictures on the news, than by using the helicopters to rescue people.  And I don't think, in practical terms, the helicopters could do both jobs to an acceptable quality.  People are trained cameramen, or trained rescuers, but not both. 

Just a though....

[nedflanders]

I agree Jan Bug. It is about the only thing the mass media are good for though!

[SteveD]

I'm not really suggesting that the reporters should bring in food and water or take victims out.  I just wonder how the victims view well-fed, freshly-showered film crews flying in, taking pictures, doing a piece to camera and then flying out again.

[january_bug]

Good point nedflanders!  :-)

And sorry to all for my daft typo on the last word of my post!  Obviously it was just a thought!!!

[january_bug]

Crossed with you there SteveD.  Well perhaps the people seeing the helicopters, who I honestly don't think I have time to stand and work out which ones are news crews and which ones are rescuers, will have thoughts along the line of my thread and appreciate that publicity is what they need, to encourage their own government, and people around the world, to supply the money for the desperately needed aid.  And sometimes, long term benefits that people in a crisis can't think of because their minds are full of more urgent matters, need to be supplied in a paternalistic way, for the greater good. 

[Dom Tuk]

Just saw on Sky news that the New orleans business district and the wealthier parts on one side of the river are unscathed. So 5 star hotel are still open, their bars still serve drinks and you can book a table at a posh restaurant. Scheduled evening parties and marriage receptions are going ahead as usual. Its only the poorer downtown regions that have been badly hit. Bizarre how life goes on...

[SteveD]

That's incredible.  Why haven't these places been requisitioned and the function rooms and even bedrooms used to accommodate some of the victims?