Tsuanmi and Television

The earthquake-triggered tsunami that hit many parts of South and Southeast Asia on December 26 left a horrendous trail of destruction. With over 150,000 dead, several million displaced and widespread property damage, the event earned its dubious place among the top ten disasters of all time.

It has also been described as the first truly globalised disaster of our time. The killer waves impacted over a dozen countries on two continents -- including some in eastern Africa -- and affected not only residents in these countries but nationals from other parts of the world who had flocked to key coastal tourist resorts in Asia. The tremors from the bottom of the Indian Ocean reverberated not only across the two continents on its rim, but also much farther away.

Television, as the world’s most powerful mass medium, has been a key player in covering the unfolding humanitarian crisis across Asia. Although disaster struck on a typically ‘lean news’ day during the seasonal holidays for many media organisations, they were quick to get cameras rolling. As television stations and networks scrambled to get their own news reporters and camerapersons to the multiple scenes and locations impacted, some of the early, dramatic visuals came from holiday-makers. A few had captured dramatic moments on their personal video cameras even as many struggled to save their lives and families.

As Danny Schechter, media watcher and blogger-in-chief of MediaChannel.org, remarked: “This is not ‘reality television’. This is reality on television”.

This reality on television was not just confined to covering the disaster all its horror. By bringing visuals and stories to the living rooms of tens of millions of families in countries not directly impacted, the medium was largely responsible for inspiring ordinary people (and later their governments) to come to the aid of affected countries and people. This once again demonstrated what Bernard Kouchner, former French health minister and first UN governor of Kosovo, once said: “Where there is no camera, there is no humanitarian intervention.”

Media coverage: in pursuit of 3R’s or 2R’s?

Television and other media’s coverage of the tsunami disaster was not without its share of biases, distortions and controversies. As people in the hardest hit Asian countries slowly recovered from the initial shocks, they began to pay more attention to these anomalies. While the affected countries were preoccupied with three R’s -- relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction -- it appeared that some sections of the media are obsessed with their own two R’s -- ratings and revenue.

Charges of ‘helicopter journalism’ abound. Questions are being asked whether some of the more gruesome images should have been repeated on television seemingly endlessly. The insensitive conduct of some western media outlets was also evident in how they covered the impact on nationals from their country of origin. In contrast, the plight of a vast majority of Asian nationals was reduced to providing a backdrop against which reporting was taking place.

Jeremy Seabrook echoed this sentiment when he wrote in the UK’s Guardian newspaper: “For the western media, it was clear that their lives have a different order of importance from those that have died in thousands, but have no known biography, and, apparently, no intelligible tongue in which to express their feelings.”

Of course, excesses and indiscretions were not confined to the western media. Many examples can be cited on how Asian broadcast networks -- including those in the affected countries -- demonstrated their own prejudices and deficiencies. In Sri Lanka, for example, it took two full days before the local media adequately reported the extent of damage in the north and east areas that were hardest hit. Those are on the opposite side of the island from the capital where all media are concentrated. In India, which has experienced a recent explosion of 24/7 news channels, initial coverage left many viewers dazed, confused or alarmed. This prompted the Indian Express newspaper to call for better media training and greater specialisation among television journalists. “Expertise may help minimise the hysteria of less informed reporting," it noted.

TVE Asia Pacific and the Tsunami Disaster

TVE Asia Pacific, with its office based in Nawala, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, was not physically impacted by the disaster. Compared to the devastation in most other coastal areas of the island, Colombo was far less affected. All TVEAP staff members and their immediate families are safe. Without exception, however, all know of friends who lost family members and/or suffered property loss. The TVEAP team shares their grief, and offers heart-felt sympathy to all affected persons, known and unknown.

TVE Asia Pacific was closed for seasonal holidays when the disaster took place. Shortly after reopening for the New Year on 3 January 2005, the team mobilized themselves to gather emergency relief supplies through personal donations. These were channelled to the city of Batticaloa in the east through one of our staff members; and also to Sarvodaya (www.sarvodaya.org), the largest development charity in Sri Lanka, which has mounted a well organised relief effort using their countrywide network of offices and volunteers.

As a regional organisation, we have been as much concerned about the safety of our partners across the Asia Pacific. During the days following the disaster, we heard from our partners in Chennai (India) and Ubud (Indonesia), informing us that they were not personally affected. We have also heard from various friends and colleagues in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand. We share their tragedy and offer our support and solidarity in this hour of need.

TVE Asia Pacific response to the disaster

In our initial assessment, we recognized that, in terms of financial and operational capacity, we are a small player that cannot directly tackle the massive relief and rebuilding needs. We are encouraged that entities that have such capacity -- from governments and armed forces to global and international relief agencies -- are addressing these.

Organisationally, we need to be more strategic if we are to be meaningful in our interventions. We have just agreed on the following core principles that will form the basis of everything we do in response to the disaster. Any disaster specific activities that emerge in the coming weeks will be guided by this framework.

1.	As a regional organisation, TVEAP will take a regional view of the post-disaster rebuilding efforts and will seek ways of being associated with rebuilding efforts in both South Asian and Southeast Asian countries affected. Particular attention will be paid to countries where national partners exist, namely: India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
2.	TVEAP will consult with national partners in the affected countries before deciding on appropriate interventions. Being based in Sri Lanka, it will also explore opportunities for greater involvement in the country of its geographical location. Any tangible activities that result will involve the Sri Lankan partner.
3.	TVEAP will look for specific ways in which it can apply its audio-visual and development communications skills and experience in the rebuilding process. In particular, it will focus on the following areas: • building the capacity of media professionals to better cover disaster and post-disaster situations; • monitoring the role of national, regional and global media in covering the disaster and its aftermath; • using information and communications technologies (ICTs) in pre and post disaster communication; • using ICTs to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the optimum use of humanitarian aid; and • supporting the communications needs of civil society partners in motivating communities to rebuild and rehabilitate themselves.
4.	TVEAP will leave the formidable tasks of emergency relief and infrastructure development to those better equipped to tackle them. If invited, TVEAP will offer communications inputs to larger development or rebuilding projects, deciding on a case by case basis.
5.	TVEAP will be especially careful not to propose or pursue projects or activities that seek to benefit institutionally and financially from the large amounts of humanitarian aid being provided by governments, donors, corporations and individuals. In this regard, it will exercise caution and restraint not to give in to temptations common in the non-profit sector in post-disaster situations. TVEAP will also not operate any relief funds .
6.	TVEAP will not seek to commercially or organisationally exploit the disaster affected individuals, communities or countries. All communications activities to be undertaken by TVEAP in relation to the aftermath of the disaster will: • respect the human rights and communications rights of affected women, men and children; • be based on adequate and equitable consultations with partners and/or media professionals in the countries concerned; • use the advice, skills and expertise of competent television and video professionals based in the Asia Pacific; and • stay within the five main activity areas of TVEAP (see box on right).
7.	All those who offer donations are being referred to our international partners Oxfam and/or our national partners Sarvodaya.