After the recent spate of disasters, the mood in the nation is somber. The media play a crucial role when accidents occur, especially when something happens like the gas pipeline explosions on Thursday last week in Greater Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen (前鎮) and Lingya (苓雅) districts. The explosions occurred in several places over a period of time, making the provision of up-to-date information essential. With the Internet, news outlets were able to provide this information, but the way they did so leaves much to be desired.
Reporters were at the scene as the situation was ongoing. One reporter, from the Chinese-language Apple Daily, was seriously hurt. The response by the central and local governments was commendably quick, with the authorities establishing emergency response centers after the initial explosion.
The Greater Kaohsiung Government was especially swift in its response: Starting from 12:40am on Friday, it provided constant updates through e-mail and text messages, and sent out press releases with the latest information about temporary shelters, the death toll and number of people injured, which areas had restricted access, whether people were expected to go to school or work the next day, and information about water, electricity and gas supplies.
All disasters, natural or of human origin, have a cause, which must be carefully investigated to assess accountability and to avoid a recurrence.
The media have a duty to not rely on incomplete information that can lead to damaging conclusions.
Many Taiwanese media commentators made spurious guesses about the causes for the recent TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 crash on Penghu even before the facts had been established. This problem is hardly new with the media in Taiwan.
The more professional media outlets explore the possible causes of an accident. Reporting on the recent suspected shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the Washington Post analyzed the range of various surface-to-air missiles and discussed the risks involved in commercial airliners flying over conflict zones, using text and diagrams.
In its reporting of the Greater Kaohsiung explosions, the BBC focused on how a fundamental part of urban planning is the prevention of gas pipeline explosions, and that such pipelines, for natural gas as well as for chemicals, should never be laid in commercial districts. The BBC focused on the serious price Greater Kaohsiung has paid for a lack of proper adherence to zoning between residential/commercial areas and industrial areas.
The appropriate treatment of disaster victims is another fundamental part of news reporting, and media outlets in Taiwan — especially the television stations — have often been found wanting in this regard.
The Dutch media reported on the repatriation of the remains of Dutch victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in a suitably solemn manner, in stark contrast to the Taiwanese media’s sensationalist and intrusive reporting of the TransAsia Airways Flight GE222 plane crash on Penghu only six days later.
Television news reporting in Taiwan has not changed, with its propensity to use sensationalist footage of grieving family members to increase ratings. Regulations preventing the airing of such excessive footage do exist, but are often ignored, in the process violating people’s rights and damaging the reputation of the media in this country.
It is the heads of news at television stations and the owners of television stations who should be held the most accountable.
Lu Shih-hsiang is an adviser to the Taipei Times.
Translated by Drew Cameron
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