Catastrophe Coverage Following “Sandy’s” Example

A CNN commentator spent long hours exposed to strong winds and heavy rainstorm when providing coverage of a New York beach just a few hours before the arrival of the powerful storm “Sandy.” In another scene, there was yet another correspondent exposed to the strong winds and putting his life in danger whilst providing a live broadcast. Indeed this was courageous and altruistic — all for the benefit of the viewers.

CNN was not only carrying the news but also giving a full picture of it to viewers from all over the world. Moreover, they were speaking about wind speed, rainfall intensity and providing scientific coverage about the storms. They showed how it could cause heavy floods and where the huge amounts of water would go, and gave advice to viewers who have been caught up in the weather.

Live broadcast of natural catastrophes is popular in American media, where the topic is given top coverage. This is especially true when there is a catastrophe such as a hurricane. The channel recruits hundreds of employees to broadcast events to viewers in a very professional and reliable way; there is no place for mistake because the credibility of the broadcast depends on accurate information. This is a lesson that some Arabic channels — especially those providing news — will benefit from. The U.S. media respects the phrase “Breaking News,” where channels interrupt their scheduled broadcasts in order to cover details of the breaking news. They will not let it pass unnoticed, especially when human lives depend on it, so they spend long hours broadcasting and putting all their energy into the news story. This grand media show forces us to respect the professionalism of channels that, whatever the conditions, will go to the heart of the event.