Feelings last longer than headline stories…
June 3rd 2017… A day which changed my life forever. That dreaded date marks the time I devastatingly woke up one morning, to find out my dear friend Sara Zelenak had been murdered in the London Bridge terrorist attack. Sarz was my brother’s girlfriend, but more like a sister to me. We effortlessly connected and undeniably she was always by my side with a helping hand.
Sarz would drop anything to come help you, no matter what. She was the most generous, considerate and easy going person to be around. Nothing was ever too much of an ask, nor too hard for Sarz. Her infectious laugh undoubtedly cracked you up alongside her funny remarks and unique gestures. We trusted each other with an abundance of secrets, insecurities, dreams and future goals… until one day it was all cowardly and unimaginably taken away.
Now coming to terms with this type of trauma was unbearably heart wrenching. Adding to the pain was the type of media circulating on various platforms of the event. Reputable platforms such as SBS news headlined her death as, “Sara Zelenak stabbed after slip and fall”. A platform with 4 million viewers portrayed Sara’s murder reporting she “had ‘no chance’ to escape before she was stabbed to death”.
How would you feel after reading this about someone you knew? Insensitively, these examples show that the media was portraying the consequence of Sara’s murder due to her slipping in high heels… Julie Wallace, Sara’s mother commented, in an interview during the inquest about the media saying;
“it does bring up raw emotion, I would like to know that they have changed some things to make it safer for others so people don’t suffer this traumatic grief that we have.”
Chief executive of Southwark Council, Eleanor Kelly wrote an apology letter, after leaked footage showing the tragic event of the attack were, “widely circulated online and through social media.’’ But it was too late, the damage was done. This isn’t the first time this has happened and unfortunately not the last…
It’s essential to think how this has all erupted? The use of digital platforms have allowed the spread of information on global catastrophes to be recognised world-wide, however when discussing traumatic events — are positive, respectful actions being taken or insensitive ones?
The shift to being able to produce content over multiple platforms alongside, technological developments has a lot to play. Both have enabled the blur of boundaries between mobile and fixed communications, which include the integration of; telecommunications, broadcast, telephone etc. Known as convergence, this term is a “central institution to collect and disseminate large quantities of information”.
Due to converging media environments, the dynamic nature of the medium, and more types of sources contributing online, its harder to regulate and keep the online world safe. Living in a different world where anyone can be a publisher raises the question — can anyone be a journalist? Who is responsible for producing heartless content like this?
Another example includes comments surrounding the recent murder of Michaela Dunn 24-yr-old, Sydney sex worker, which have been brought to light for being insensitive. The media used insensitive reporting and almost click-bait titles to catch readers, ABC expressed their thoughts with a piece they wrote.
Digital news spreads quickly due to this shift from distribution to circulating online media through converged online platforms. Users are now allowed to contribute by voicing their opinion about the content or sharing the story, which compared to the past, people were much more passive types of audiences. This broadened media space enables users to actively participate, forming a participatory culture group. Various online communication tools have contributed to facilitate this instantaneous sharing.
Participating online is seen through the live-streaming of the Christchurch shooting in March, which got 1.3 million shares and leaked over various platforms before it was taken down. There are now regulations that have been put in place to consequence those people who participate in distributing this type of content. Similarly, the spreadability of content has contributed to this problem. It explains how technical resources have now made it easier to circulate different media types.
While there have been negative aspects within the rise of digital platforms, I cannot deny the accessible communication and advances that it has produced. However, having been personally affected by how insensitive the media can be when reporting a traumatic event to the public, I believe more conscious choices of all the people involved need to be taken upon. Feelings last longer than headline stories.
