Almost constant flooding has caused suffering across Taiwan. In particular, residents of areas more likely to be flooded, such as Hsichih, Sanchung, Hsinchuang and Tunghu, feel ill at ease as soon as "water" is mentioned.
But that is not the worst disaster. The media's overstated and inappropriate reporting exaggerates the perceived disaster in these areas, which means that after a flooding, residents also lose money in the form of falling real estate prices. A person living in Hsichih pointed out that the city hadn't been flooded in three years, and that the flooding on Sept. 10 was partial, only hitting the city's lower-lying areas. This person lives across Keelung river from Paochang and Chang-an boroughs, areas that have often been flooded in the past.
Hsiangchang borough, however, which has in the past been stricken by the same floods, escaped unscathed this time because the Keelung River embankment project and the Hsiangchang pumping station had been completed.
However, the media described this partial flooding as "a serious, city-wide disaster." Consequently, a Hsichih resident is asking TV stations guilty of such exaggerations to reimburse him for the falling value of his house, saying that, "Apart from the falling real estate prices in Hsichih being the result of natural disasters, the media should be held responsible for the manmade disaster created by untruthful reporting."
I live in a community in the Wudu area to the east of Hsichih City. Although we have over the past 10 years at times been unable to leave the house because of flooded streets, the community as a whole has never been flooded. It almost makes me feel embarrassed when I think about the relatives and friends who keep calling to show their concern.
During the recent flooding, TV stations had reporters standing in the middle of flooded streets to improve viewer ratings. This was not only immoral, but also bad for the reporters' health.
Disaster prediction is difficult, and we constantly suffer both small and great disasters. Some are natural disasters, which, while unavoidable, could be prepared for. The media need to offer predictions and promote disaster-prevention information in order to minimize the damage resulting from disasters.
Reporters should of course report how many people died or were injured, material losses, possible causes and rescue efforts. It is also difficult to avoid descriptions of the area and assigning blame.
However, because disasters are a matter of life and death, and because they also result in material losses for many people, truth is the most important part of disaster reporting. Reporters must deal with rumors by looking for evidence, so that they do not pass on unsubstantiated speculation. They cannot spread rumors in order to improve viewer ratings.
After the 921 Earthquake in 1999, rumors were circulating that foreign workers were engaging in looting. During the national power outage a few months before the earthquake, there were even more rumors floating about. All these rumors were later proven to be just that, rumors. The media must be cautious.
A reporter who fulfills his duty while also showing restraint and dealing with the situation in a calm and professional manner is a reporter worthy of respect.
Viewers and readers are of course grateful when reporters take risks, but unnecessary sacrifices should be avoided. If reporters come off as too fond of blood or make too much of a show of their reports, they will only make a mockery of the phrase "taking pride in one's work."
Cheng Jim-ming is a professor of journalism at the Graduate Institute of Journalism at the Chinese Culture University.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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