The recent images circulating on social media platforms of cars and people being swept away or rescued as a result of torrential rains are proof of our changing times.
With photos and an outpouring of emotions being spread like fire, there is no time for blame games or shallow excuses. Mainstream media narratives tailored to fit purposes become sources of rage, dissatisfaction, or sarcasm.
Those setting the media narrative and rhetoric could well look into the history of online reporting. When Abraham Lincoln, the then president of the United States, was assassinated in 1865, many Americans didn't learn of it for weeks.
In contrast, most Americans learned of the 1945 death of Franklin D Roosevelt within hours of the event, though details may have been sketchy.
Radio had stitched together a nationwide audience that could be informed of any news quickly and efficiently, making the best use of technology at the time.
By 1963, when John F Kennedy was assassinated, millions of Americans had learned about the shooting before Kennedy was even declared dead.
Television spread the breaking news instantly, though satellite technology was not advanced enough to allow for immediate live coverage from Dallas, the location of the shooting. Despite limitations, television helped turn Kennedy's death and its aftermath into an all-encompassing four-day event.
By the time Princess Diana died in a car accident in 1997, news technology had advanced to a new level. On both television and the Internet, the world saw live video of the crash scene and received minute-by-minute updates on Diana's condition for hours before her death was announced.
On September 11, 2001, when a hijacked commercial airline crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Americans learned about it within minutes. Television and radio stations ran live coverage. Internet outlets updated their information regularly, and many newspapers produced extra editions based on pictures and accounts from ordinary citizens. People started uploading their videos and photos online, competing with news organisations that were pushed not only to update but also to give context and explanations.
These historical facts show that the concept of news timeliness has been fundamentally redefined. In the twentieth century, reporters' toolkits expanded beyond pen, paper, and typewriters.
As smartphones and network connections got faster and news editors realised the potential of online journalism, news sites started to evolve. Citizens turning into reporters had an impact because news organizations had to take into account that a new way of journalism was on the cards – and still is.
Though technology has enabled reporters and news organisations to transmit information not only instantly but also thoroughly, I have noticed that during severe weather, citizens and civil defence teams are outperforming news organisations by posting videos and photographs on social media platforms, with each side using different rhetoric. The problem is that it is all scattered around the Internet.
Journalists in the twenty-first century must navigate the complexities of modern society; however, they also have unprecedented resources for better reporting. Tools for gathering news have evolved from observation and interviews to include government records, archives, and databases. However, when natural disasters strike, what is most visible are officials justifying shortcomings.
As technology has advanced, expectations have risen. People are better educated and aware of missteps in governance. And the media plays an important role! It is no longer sufficient to jot down notes and write a text. One of the issues is when official information is released later than needed or is worded in ways that are unclear to people.
The avoidable consequences of natural disasters need to be tackled in ways that there are no blame games, and that is when skilled journalism practice can create a healthy media landscape for the benefit of citizens.
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