41

KQ 507: Tragedy & The Media

Posted May 8th, 2007 in Reflections by M

[UPDATE]

I must confess that news of the missing KQ Flight on Saturday concerned me gravely scared the hell out of me. Because of the fact that I know a number of flight engineers and stewards, one of whom had emailed me to inform me that she was coming back on a flight from West Africa.

Mercifully, she was not on that particular flight, but still, I have that feeling of being kicked in the stomach when I think of what might have been.

That our prayers are with the family and friends of the victims need not be said, for they are, and will continue to be. This is a very trying time, but I have no doubt that God will comfort the affected and wipe away their tears.

The confirmation that my friend was OK came much later, but while I was in the vacuum of information, I kept a very close eye indeed on all the TV channels and a close ear on the radio channels. Google was my friend online as I kept my pulse to the developments.

The way the media handled the issue, to be frank, at times made me extremely uncomfortable.

  • Most local TV stations had created some sort of update bulletin, that began with the most depressing music and graphics, even before the plane was known for a fact to have crashed. Not that they should have made it jolly or anything, but is that the sort of thing you want to see and listen to when hoping against hope for the safety of your loved ones?
  • During one of the press briefings at the Panari Hotel, KQ CEO Titus Naikuni opened the floor to questions for the press. And how did one reporter make use of this opportunity? He wanted a list of the journalists that had flown to Douala.
  • As the day progressed, the International stations, CNN and BBC  pushed the story progressively back in their coverage, up to the point it was no longer being mentioned in the headlines. A crashed plane is a BIG DEAL. A crashed plane with 114 people on board is a BIG DEAL Certainly bigger than tornadoes.
  • One of the papers prematurely published a list of the passengers and crew.
  • ONE OF THE NAMES WAS WRONG! This in particular really bothers me. Just imagine, knowing for a fact that your father/mother/wife/husband/son is safe and sound and then reading their name in the paper! The shock!
  • Most of the TV stations aired footage of distraught and grieving family and friends. Precisely what is the purpose of this? I see no reason whatsoever to record, much less air, such footage. What are they trying to prove?
  • One local radio station invited the brother of one of the flight pursers on a morning show and had the temerity to ask him “What did you feel when you heard the news of the missing flight?“. I mean, come on! What do you expect him to answer?
  • The papers for a couple of day plastered their front pages with pictures of grieving family and friends. I’ve heard arguments that this personalizes the story, but for God’s sake we don’t need the story to be personalized! These are our friends, our colleagues, our family! We so appreciate the enormity of the tragedy and the sense of loss!

Some of the International coverage makes me more than uncomfortable. Annoyed is the word that comes to mind. Apparently the CNN thinks that we are somehow lesser human beings. Look at their story:

 

Look at the highlighted bit:

 

They were energetic enough to say five Brits, one Swiss and one Swede, but could not be bothered to break down the African casulaties, settling for “The remainder were  Africans”. Why then did they not say some Europeans as well? Are we second class human beings? I guess I should not be surprised to expect a myopic news organization is unable to live up to its “International” tag.

Granted, there is no formula as to how to handle such tragic events, but I’m sure if we followed the simple parameters of treating them with the seriousness they deserve and utmost respect to the affected family and friends, we should be OK.

But that’s just me.

To the family, friends, colleagues of the victims, the KQ fraternity and Kenyans as a whole: take heart my friends. God will wipe our tears away and soothe our grieving souls

 

AOB

Oh, and I will be going to Coast in a couple of weeks on business.

I SHALL be flying Kenya Airways, the Pride Of Africa

Show your support. FLY KQ

  • http://www.kenyanmusings.blogspot.com KM

    Hey Chap. Imagine I knew one of the crew!! Ugh. I’m with you, condolences to all those affected.
    LOL, erm, I see someone gravely scared of flying trying to encourage themselves…..

    When I came here I was first but I bet when my comment appears I will be number like 15.

  • http://www.kenyanmusings.blogspot.com KM

    haiyaaaa, I’m first. The coment came fao.

    Tebu tell me this you ‘man in your late 20′s’, tihiii, hehehe Bully wewe! “M is a bully, M is a bully” (sang to the tune of nyenyenyenyenye)…. tehehehe,
    kwani where was I when this durama was going down?

  • http://mountkirima.blogspot.com Kirima

    My heart also skipped a beat since My Bro works at KQ event though I knew he was not on that flight but my thoughts of what if made me shudder.
    I agree we should improve our coverage and be more sensitive it is quite rude to push cameras in the faces of distraught and greiveing relatives. I didn’t see that even with the shootings at Virginia Tech. Maybe the local media should come up with a code on how to handle disasters.

  • http://tallb.wordpress.com/ aegeus

    A few of my pals have pals in KQ and i now have one recruited recently. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families of those who had someone on that flight. May you find solace, strength and comfort in the immense outpouring of support from family, friends and well wishers.

    The media on the other hand were brash and embarrassing in the face of this – then their shots of the recovery efforts, then as modo said as i drove to work this morning i see The E A Standard Mud Plunge! Ouch! Whatever happened to good journalism and discretion?

  • http://prousette.blogspot.com prousette

    This business of bringing someone’s very personal moment of weakness and sadness is just insensitive and unprofessional. How does that help the story really?

    It was annoying and I think the code of conduct for journalists says something on that but I could be wrong.

    My condolences to the affected families and friends as well.

  • Jogoo wa Shamba

    I think trying to sensationalize such a sad event is the height of rogue journalism. what did one “popular” daily expect to gain by publishing a list of names even before rescuers reached the crash site? Do they even have an inkling of how it feels for families,friends and relatives? whatever happened to informing the next of kin

    My sincere condolences to the afflicted families,friends and all others affected

  • http://egmgem.com/blog egm

    Pole to all affected by this tragedy. The whole issue of the media’s responsibility in such events was brought to the fore when NBC got into plenty of hot water for airing videos the VTech gunman had made and mailed to them. The backlash was swift, with families scheduled to be interviewed by the station cancelling their appearances due to this inanity.

    The list you write up of the various gaffes would be laughable were the situation in question not as grave.

  • wathiiFM

    Kenyan media needs to style up when it comes to such things.My sincere condolences to the families n friends.

    Kenya-Airways is still my fav

  • http://tallb.wordpress.com aegeus

    M, what flag is that your blog dares wrap around my alias? :-)

  • http://mudskippah.blogspot.com mudskippah

    When the story broke, KTN and Nation presented it in 2 different ways. KTN took the opportunity to blow their tired trumpet and tell us how they were the first to get the news, that their man Alex Chamwada was the one on CNN, etc. Nation, on the other hand, took a more sober approach. Maybe it’s because it wasn’t their man on the scoop, I don’t know, but KTN at that moment came through to me as insensitive and crude. Media people need to go back to their ethics notes.

  • Dusty

    May God rest the souls of our departed brothers and sisters. May God grant comfort and peace to all the grieving friends, relatives and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic plane crash.

    I agree that the media needs to be more sensitive when reporting such news. I kept crying as KTN repeatedly aired footage of the shocked relatives as they arrived at JKIA to get news of the missing plane. It was so disheartening because at that time the crash hadn’t been confirmed and so there was still some hope of survivors. What we needed was accurate news of what happened to the plane, but the media chose not to focus on that. Sad.

    Surely our reporters should know that there must be a balance between getting the story and respecting the feelings of people who are affected by such a tragedy.

    At least KTN was sensible enough not to air the second episode of the series “Lost” on Tuesday night…

    As for the CNN story… all I can say is shame on them! As though the lives of “the Africans” are of any less value than that of the “one American”. Apparently even in death, humankind’s common denominator, CNN sees some as being more equal than others.

    God have mercy.

  • edwin

    i noticed the CNN reference and just stopped reading stat.
    Peace to all the bereaved families.

  • Vin

    My condolences to all the affected families.There must be so many “why’s”. However God will reveal all in due course.

  • http://wherehermadnessresides.blogspot.com R

    I couldn’t believe some of the questions the journalists were asking either. Naikuni could barely disguise his annoyance, could he?

    I wish I’d seen that “the remainder were Africans” before I blogged today. Still, goes to prove…

  • http://www.simplyclarah.blogspot Klara

    My heart felt condolences goes to their families..May God give them the strenght they need at this hard n painful time..
    May their souls R.I.P

  • http://www.magaidi.com/diary Magaidi

    I was up at 3 am on Sato watching this on CNN coz a friend called me from Kenya and told me what had happened. Gradually like you, M , I saw it get pushed back to barely making any headlines and news of an imminent tornado in Kansas was getting serious coverage. KBW, or African bloggers as a whole need to get together and maybe put together a petition and protest this. Maybe someone in the mainstream media will pick up on it. At this point though, my prayers are with friends and family. Poleni sana.

  • I

    First, My condolences to the families who lost their beloved…

    Why are the lives of Africans’ constatly treated as if they are not losses?!!?
    It really gets on my nerves! i can’t even express my aggrivation in words….
    As childish as this sounds i wish i was the editor for an African newspaper so i can have a chance to treat other “races” losses as not such big losses!!

    And as an editor, i would have a to send a bunch of journalists back to high school! let alone college!

  • Boi

    Guys need to get real. Americans think the only asses with value are white ones.

    RIP to the victims.

    A guy — that byitch slapping you gave MA at archer’s reminds me of that chap chap battle you had with the MPs son.

    Nigga never knew what hit him!! LOOOOL!!!

  • http://blog.uhuru.de JKE

    M, I had the same mixed feelings when I read that “rest are Africans” part. This is one stupid classification those editors should be kicked for.

  • http://tallb.wordpress.com/ aegeus

    I just saw the edit. What do we expect from them anyway? The fact that they pushed out the news item rather rapidly from their headline was proof enough that since not many americans died then it was not newsworthy! International my arse!

  • http://NA Eunice

    A man should not leave this earth with unfinished business. He should live each day as if it was a pre-flight check. He should ask each morning, am I prepared to lift-off?

    Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, All is Vanity, 1991

  • Ms K

    You know, I studied journalism and I know there is absolutely NO reason to put pictures of grieving relatives on air. They are not the news godaammit!!! It makes me so damn mad. Kwani our media practitioners have lost all reason and humanity. I am so tired of this I want to know what we can do to stop it!

    As for Kenyan journos, they’re not the brightest. I don’t know how they ask such daft questions!!

    I went to school with one of the crew and my heart is just breaking for her, and her family and friends. It just breaks my heart.

    On another note, have you read Okech Kendo’s commentary in today’s Standard. He has a valid point. We should not forget to mourn those dying of “clashes” in Mt Elgon and elsewhere. We must not allow the story to vanish to the back pages. We must not allow their plight to be forgotten.

  • http://NA Eunice

    I guess that’s how death works. It doesn’t matter if we’re ready or not. It just happens.
    Randy K. Milholland,

  • http://NA Eunice

    My message to Families n Relatives. Lets learn to accept what we can NEVER UNDO; God was there; He never leaves nor forsake his pple; we dont need to worry so much if the gadgets required r NEVER FOUND. “Jesus Is Still The Answer”

    I read that the Pilot was recorded saying; WE ARE IN TROUBLE; It could mean so many things; I hear that some ppl were from UN-KNOWN my question is; are they among those who were picked b4 the TRAGEDY???????? BEING IN TROUBLE MEANS SO MANY THINGS; FAMILIES N RELATIVES REMAIN ASSURED THAT GOD IS THE ONLY ANSWER

  • http://www.beytechinc.com Sebby Bey

    To all those affected, May you gain strength and overcome during this trying period.

  • http://mywordsonly.blogspot.com acolyte

    I do like your synopsis on the media coverage.
    “The remainder were Africans”
    Just like in the ’98 Bomb Blast, Africans are reduced to collateral damage and lesser beings.
    I also protest against the idea of grieving family members being plastered on the cover page of various dailies, let them grieve in peace.
    Much like you, I still support KQ!

  • http://kenyananalyst.wordpress.com KA

    Media ethics. Media ethics. Media ethics.
    That aside, there remain many untold or poorly told stories frm this whole thing.

  • http://www.raila.us Alpha One

    On “The remainder were Africans” writing:
    M sometimes i think you live in a vacuum, like the rest of ‘em Kenyans who still think highly of our western friends:

    Don’t try too hear hard to read between lines where there is nothing to be read. The issue of me thinking highly of our western friends does not arise

    What do you think all that negative coverage about Africans in their media is all about? Right, they DO NOT for once believe you and them are at par in “being human”. Now, we must be fair and accept that our wonderful performance (economic etc) in the world goes along way in supporting all the opinions they already hold.

    So what is your point? That we are indeed sub-par humans?
  • http://egmgem.com/blog egm

    Alpha One, that was the arguement given in a discussion in a different forum. That the day we reach economic parity (among other things), is the day we’ll be seen as equals.

  • Dshy

    Barukh Ah-ta Adonai Elohaynu Melekh HaOlam Dayan HaEmet.
    Blessed are you God, Sovereign of the universe, the righteous judge

    My prayers and condolences to their families. I am so very sorry for your loss.

    For OUR loss. They are at rest now.

    Thank you M for providing a place where we could all pass on our heartfelt
    thoughts.

  • sgn

    Lets unite as a country and weep for our fallen heroes and heroines.Pray to Got to spare us such ugly realities and hope for some brighter tomorrow.Condolences to all

  • http://mudskippah.blogspot.com mudskippah

    That economic parity with the West is what will qualify us to enter the human league? Simplisticmyopicchauvinist thinking. The reasons for Africa being economically behind are many, interelated and complex. Whatever the case, our status as humans has nothing to do with any of that. Why do people still have these arguments?

    That CNN can commit such a Freudian slip says something about deep-seated racial attitudes.

    Maybe we need to prove a point?

    a.o.b: there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the circumstances of the crash. What’s that about?

  • tina

    its unfortunate that it happened, but i just dont get it why commenters no1 & 2 are rumbling on whose comment will be first. shammmme

  • http://uniquelykenyan.blogspot.com mwangee

    true man.

    you should have heard the prime time news on kbc that night. they had a chic read a report that sounded very googled with details of how the founder of boeing had horses.

    and on wednesday 9th may, ntv tonight had a title reading ‘cancelling sessions ongoing in cameroun’.

    but cnn degrading we africans to baggage status takes the s**tty cake.

  • http://toiyoi.wordpress.com/ toiyoi

    @M,@mudskippah,et al
    I tend to agree with alpha.,i.e.
    The west will continue to view Africans in bad light and that the poor performance of Africans themselves (based on world established metrics, be they right or wrong) has not helped Africans either.

    That may be true, but I refuse to let them get away with such an absurd viewpoint in this day and age. Life is life, whether it is third world or first world!

    In any case, Americans don’t seem to think much of Canadians, or Eurpoeans for that matter … and their metrics are pretty much equivalent!

    Needless to say, I believe human-nees has nothing to do with the quantity of “toys” one accumulates, but like it or not, the world measures human-ness with those very standards (wealth, health, stealth) which 99% of Africans seem to lack.

    On the other hand, is it not true that 90% of Africans view the west as the source of their salvation out of their misery?

  • http://Nakeel.blogspot.com Nakeel

    I totally agree with you the Kenyan media treated this soo bad. Its like they had a competition of who will cover it best. Did you see the way the photographers were hovering to get the relas photos. Too bad. As for CNN shame on them atleast BBC had a little feel.

  • Pingback: At the Front of A New Movement! « beninmwangi.com

  • DedanKimathi

    Why are the lives of Africans’ constatly treated as if they are not losses?!!?

    The above is a valid question. CNN’s reference that the others were Africans confirms that the white man is still warped and would sooner equate an African life to zilch. However we are, to some extent, to blame for elevating the white arse with the neo-colonialist hangover.

    Time we woke up and refused to take this crap, same applies to our shameful-boot-licking Kenyan journalists who have no iota of African pride in them.

  • TeeJ

    M, thing is, the same way that sex sells in the media, so does grief and trauma. It’s sad, but a reality that’s here to stay.

  • http://www.blacklooks.org sokari
  • http://chrenyan.wordpress.com/ Chrenyan

    Tis so sad. We lost a colleague on that flight – in our very (small) department. Unbelievable.

    As for CNN, let them take care of their own first! Our own media was not particularly emphasising which Americans passed on, was it?

Search

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

History

May 2007
M T W T F S S
« Apr   Jun »
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Archives

Categories

More Blogs