I am sure that most of you are aware of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It seems in the past few years, the world has experienced multiple and strong earthquakes. Haiti, Chile and now Japan with a 8.9 magnitude. This magnitude is the strongest ever recorded but is that really saying much? Records only go back nearly a hundred years and a lot could have happened before that time. What is most interesting though is how quickly the United States, on the opposite side of the world from Japan, found out it was happening and reported it within the same day. The speed and response time to this natural disaster is a prime example of how quickly technology and mass media is advancing. The news is meant to report these kinds of incidents. To inform the audience of their surroundings, even if it's across the world.
The situation continues to worsen as time passes. The military continue to rescue survivors and count the death toll, the nuclear power plants' failing cooling units, and what the water has left behind as it recedes. But we will be made aware of any update because of the internet and other forms of mass media. To think that less than thirty years ago, it would have taken months before we had any idea of the catastrophe that has befallen these countries.
What are your thoughts?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110314/wl_nm/us_japan_quake
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After watching the news clip in class this morning, I was confronted with the reality of the crisis in Japan. Truthfully, I first found out about the news from a Twitter post linked to the person's Facebook page. I can't help but think that even though there are positive aspects to the idea that anyone can post anything, the availability of these platforms may diminish the accuracy and/or impact of the news. A tweet that reads "praying for everyone in Japan" is not nearly as comprehensive as a news report from a reputable journalist and network.
I think it's amazing how quickly we can get global news. Especially with disaster relief. I heard that within HOURS of the beginning of the crisis, Google had already put up an online tool that allowed people to find information on missing persons in Japan. Not only that, but people are using the internet to begin more community-oriented disaster relief efforts like raising money and putting together care packages for those caught in the mess.
I was in awe after watching the news clip showed in class this morning, I saw previous clippings this weekend, and it was truly like watching something you would see in a movie..such as "Day After Tomorrow". Meaning, it didn't seem real! I can't imagine the horror that the people of Japan must be going through right now...My heart goes out to them! I am very greatful at the technological advances of our mass media outlets today, and how quickly news reaches us. That is why we are all very fortunate to be able to come from a time where this can be possible!
I think the media has really evolved even since the Haiti catastrophe in how information is revealed and translated to the public. There was a segment on CNN the other night and it had a map of Japan on it, with little YouTube symbols in different places all over the country. You could go online and click the symbol for a specific city or area and see a video that someone has posted showing how the quake and flood impacted that area. What an interesting tool!
Of course Japan is a much more technologically advanced culture with much more access to electronics, but new ideas continue to spring up that allow a much more in depth way to view information and obtain an accurate view of a situation.
I agree that it's impressive that the media has been able to report and respond to everything that is happening over there. Because of how our technology has advanced, we're able to respond and send help quicker, but I kind of wonder whether it's just going to be old news in a few weeks and people are going to stop caring so much. I feel like that was the case with the earthquake in Haiti-- people cared and sent money and relief, but after a few weeks, we stopped hearing so much about it. I wonder if it's caused by media overload, our short attention spans, or something else.
It is incredible that we can so quickly be informed of disasters such as the crisis in Japan, and it is also very helpful in relief efforts. We can simply text donations to relief funds, and we can keep constantly up-to-date in order for our donations to be specific to the exact needs of any community suffering from a natural disaster. At the same time, it is disheartening to see how quickly we move on from events such as this one. The truth is it is not just an event; it has lasting damaging effects that will be present in the lives of generations of people in Japan. When we change the channel, the problems don't end. It is disheartening how short our attention spans can be and how stories such as this can take the back seat to celebrity gossip.
In class, Mr. Hendrickson made a good point about how news circulates so quick these days that we barely have a chance to take it in. For example, like the catastrophe in Japen. The story is posted online, and then it is taken down the next day and replaced with something else. Yes, it is great that with the advancement in technology we are able to hear about events taking place around the world, but is it okay that when catastrophes happen, like Japan, the news pushes the stories to the sides to replace them with new ones so quickly?
I think the advancements made in technology are incredible but they are diminished when a person takes advantage of them just to tweet that they had a pb and j sandwich for lunch instead of trying to raise awareness about this particular situation.
I woke up that at 5 am that morning to find my whole facebook news feed covered with updates about this crisis. It was scary to see some the footages that was shown on the news. It's amazing, though, how fast this news seemed to spread and for the Japanese to get almost immediate help from friends and allies. When things like this happens, technology is really amazing.
The way media has been able to make it's way around globally is incredible. To think, when the country first started wars went on for months even after they were ended because news was not able to travel as fast. I first heard about the earthquake from a twitter post. If not for the "#prayforJapan" tweets that flooded my homepage, or everyone's facebook status' dedicated to the tragedy, it would've probably taken at least a day or so for me to hear of the tragedy.
Along with everyone else, I'm keeping Japan in their prayers and hope that they are able to recover from this. I am only hoping that everyone else in the human population is beginning to realize, this planet has a mind of its own.
I initially heard about the crisis in Japan through Twitter, not traditional news media. In one of my classes last semester, my professor said, "If something's news or newsworthy, you'll hear about it." With social media and developing technology, news is made even more accessible - so that the public "hears" about it. The Internet provides information for the public to view at their leisure - it's always available. Whereas, TV reports or newspapers provide information based on deadlines unrelated to the public's availability to view/access them. The Internet takes humanity to a different level, too. For example, I didn't just read about the crisis, I saw real-time video of the destruction. Technology allows individuals to not just read about news, but to experience it for themselves.
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