Emotion and Trauma in Reporting Disaster †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Emotion and Trauma in Reporting Disaster. Answer: Introduction The maintenance of the ethical parameter in the journalism study is much essential for every individual who aspires to establish Management the career in the public information sphere. It is to be indicated that the journalism ethics depend on different codes of conducts, statements, and charters. However, the journalism ethics are mainly concerned with a set of principles that are needed to be followed in a prominent way. The five core principles of journalism are Truth and Accuracy, Fairness and Impartiality, Independence, Accountability, and humanity (Barnes, Tupou Harrison, 2016). The study will explore the idea of maintenance of the ethics in performing death knock. The study will especially keep the focus on the standards, ethics and procedures that are associated with the interview process of somebody in regards to the loss of the closed one. The clear idea of the ethical responsibility will be disclosed in this study. In many of the cases, it has been noticed that the journalists arrive on the doorstep of the family when they visit any shock or tragedy. This death knock is the hardest moment for the family or individuals and the reporters as well. Barnes, Tupou Harrison 2016) defined that death knock is the term that is used to describe the journalism practices of obtaining the tributes from the families, or relatives. Sometimes the reporter collects the photographs of the deceased for following the news of the tragic death that comes unexpectedly. This is generally termed as death knock since it involves the cold calling of the reporter at the house of the relatives to take an interview session (Abc.net.au, 2017). Public may even interpret that this practice is an invasion of privacy. However, the journalism industry has accepted this call as the ethical practice since the public seek the information. In fact, this is considered as an approach to sell the news. The Press Complaints Commission has been giving their best efforts to resist the attempts of the regulations that are against such practices (Barnes, Tupou Harrison, 2016). The voluntary code of conduct has stated that the journalists tend to focus on inquiring and publishing the materials that are generally associated with the sympathy and discretion. Duncan and Newton (2014) argued that people should not assume that the journalists has intruded on the sorrow or grief by contacting the family. However, the journalism industry is supporting this practice by ensuring that the practice is necessary for a good journalism that seeks accuracy (Napier.ac.uk, 2017). On the other hand, it is noted that the death knock practice is sometimes accepted as the superficial validity. However, in order to present the argument against such remarks, Barnes (2016) proclaimed that ignoring the news of the deceased or victims would be a denial of our humanity. Situation for the Families Many of the bereaved welcome the opportunity to talk to media during such situation. It was reported that the interview might create the significant impact on the bereaved families. Interviews with relatives of road accident victims Management or the murder victims ensured that majority of the people did not specified any problem during the death knock process. However, it was revealed that some of the people became upset during such situation. The journalists thus need to be much polite and sympathetic while communicating with the relatives of the victim (Duncan Newton, 2014). It is necessary to mention that both the parties usually maintain the effective relationship during such situations. The journalists even extract more positive view of it. The journalists ask the questions in appropriate and sensitive way. If the journalists were insensitive or present inappropriate approaches towards the family, it would be difficult for the journalism industry to make it easier for the inte rviewees. In the journalism industry, the idea of pooling holds much significance. It is noticed that while performing the death knock, it becomes difficult to face the mourning of the bereaved families (Barnes, Tupou Harrison, 2016). Moreover, if more than one journalist continues questioning the relatives or the families of the victims, it might make them more upset or disturbed. Pooling is the network in which a single station will take the interview session with the relatives or the families (Napier.ac.uk, 2017). The obtained information from the interview will be distributed or supplied to other mediums that are broadcasting the news. It is quite beneficial process of reducing the burden on the interviewees. Interests of Media Media has not reduced the interests on these stories in spite of the mental trauma the journalists have to go through during such situations. It is noted that public seek accurate information and the news of death knock is much helpful to sell the news (Ro.uow.edu.au, 2017). Therefore, the media has been trying to find the alternative way to perform this practice. The media is using the intermediaries for discussing the realistic approaches for the death knock practices. The news of the death knock is quite demanding to the public and the media is trying to engage the ethical implications for conducting such practices. The journalists often perceived as the less emotional people who are not influenced by the grievances or sorrows. However, it is noted that the interview session during death knock create the pressure on the journalists as well. The report reveals that majority of the journalists think that the practice of death knock is much negative (Strathprints.strath.ac.uk, 2012). They often get the feeling of self-disgust while enquiring the relatives or families of the victims. In usual cases, the journalists have to struggle with pressures and compounded by conflicting interests. They need to focus on accessing the materials, prepare the report and submit within the tight deadline. It was quite pressurising for the associated journalists. They often feel anxiety during the situation. Procedures to follow for performing the death knock interview The death knock practice is quite effective for the journalists. However, they maintain the simple procedure of interviewing the relatives or the families of the victims. The journalists need to follow the standards stated below: The journalists need to report and interpret the information with proper accuracy Management, disclosure, and fairness. It is essential to present the facts with proper accuracy (Meaa.org, 2017). The journalists should eliminate the unnecessary emphasis on the sensitive issues. The journalists should not allow the commercial considerations to undermine fairness and accuracy. It is essential for the journalists to respect the personal privacy and private grief. The journalists need to achieve the fair correction of the identified errors (Napier.ac.uk, 2017). The maintenance of these ethical standards is needed to be considered to perform the practice of death knock. In fact, it is essential to select the alternative solution for the reports derived from the relative or the families of the victims. Conclusion The death knock involves the cold calling of the reporter at the house of the relatives to take an interview session. Public may even interpret that this practice is an invasion of privacy. The practice creates the similar impacts on the families as well as the reporters. However, the journalism media is paying much attention on selecting the alternative solution to collect such report during the crucial situation. Interviews with relatives of road accident victims or the murder victims ensured that majority of the people did not specified any problem during the death knock process. The journalism media is associating the intermediaries and pooling process to collect the information from one source, and then supplying into different channels. However, the journalists even face much traumatic situations while performing the death knock. It is even essential for them to maintain the code of ethics and some of the ethical standards to interview the relatives and families of the victims. References Abc.net.au (2017).A balanced media? Not when it comes to gender. [online] ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-08/morris-a-balanced-media-not-when-it-comes-to-gender/7228262 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017]. Barnes, L., Tupou, J., Harrison, J. (2016). Rolling with the Punches: Why It Is Ethical to Practise Death Knocks.Asia Pacific Media Educator,26(1), 51-64. Barnes, M. L. (2016).Journalism and Everyday Trauma: A Grounded Theory Management of the Impact from Death-knocks and Court Reporting(Doctoral dissertation, Auckland University of Technology). Duncan, S., Newton, J. (2014). Emotion and trauma in reporting disaster and tragedy.Leadership and Expertise: The Centre for Law, Justice and Journalism (CLJJ) is directed by three of City University Londons leading academics, as well as being supported by a number of specialists from the university., 69. Meaa.org, (2017).MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics. [online] MEAA. Available at: https://www.meaa.org/meaa-media/code-of-ethics/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017]. Napier.ac.uk, (2017). Reporting the Death Knock: Ethics, Social Media and the Leveson Inquiry [online] Available at: https://www.napier.ac.uk/~/media/worktribe/output-172068/belch40076031mresthesispdf.pdf [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017]. Ro.uow.edu.au, (2017).Journalism and trauma: Proposals for change [online] Ro.uow.edu.au. Available at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1287context=apme [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017]. Strathprints.strath.ac.uk, (2012). [online] Available at: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/35810/1/Hacking_into_Tragedy_exploring_the_ethics_of_death_reporting_in_the_social_media_age_Strathprints_version_1_.pdf [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017].