Christian Mayeaux
Professor Marty Russell
Liba 102
11 March 2011
Journalism and Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina is a powerful example of how journalism can directly affect aid distribution after such a natural disaster. In the weeks following the landfall of Katrina the news media had a large and concentrated presence on the scene of the disaster. Countless stories were produced and shown to the public regarding every little detail about the storm. These stories not only informed the public but also pointed the public’s eye in specific directions. This guidance had drastic effects on not only the perception of the storm but also the response. The news that the public saw influenced the strength and quickness of the outcry for aid. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, the prevalent news stories regarding Louisiana and New Orleans largely overshadowed the stories regarding Mississippi Gulf Coast. This not only affected the public’s perception and also adjusted the federal aid distributed between Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The most immediate effect the media had on aid distribution would be the quickness with which aid was rushed to certain regions. With regards to the New Orleans region, a large amount of food, water, and health products were present in the city within 4-6 days after the storm
While the previous element is based mainly on the perception on survivors and experience the actual monetary amounts per capita distributed to each region give these stories validity. Federal aid allocated to Louisiana residents affected by Katrina was estimated at around $16,000 per person (Alpert). This staggering amount vastly surpasses that given to Mississippi residents. The population of the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Katrina was figured to be around 341,090 residents in a 2006 census (Mississippi Gulf Coast…). The totally amount of aid allotted to the Mississippi post-Katrina was set at $23.5 billion (Pender). This puts the amount of aid in dollars per person affect by the storm at around $6890 per person. One cannot help but see the huge difference between these figures. While these figures are only estimates they do illustrate the obvious gap between these two regions.
In closing, media coverage seems to have had a direct effect on the distribution of aid after Katrina. With the media focusing on one specific region the public was only primarily aware of one situation while blind to the other. Journalists should be aware of their ability to influence such pivotal events and help guide all parties towards a more even resolution.
Bibliography
Alpert, Bruce"Louisiana Gets More in Federal Aid than It Gives in Taxes." The Times-Picayune. 7 Feb. 2011. Web. 3 Mar. 2011.
Garguilo, Jordan C. Post-Katrina Gulf Coast Christian D Mayeaux. 2 March 2011.
Garriga, Matthew. Post-Katrina Gulf Coast Christian D Mayeaux. 2 March 2011.
"Mississippi Gulf Coast and South Mississippi Counties." Post-Katrina Population and Household Estimates and Projection. US Census Bureau. Web. 3 Mar. 2011.
Pender, Geoff. "Where Did The Money Go?" INFORMATION CLEARING HOUSE. NEWS, COMMENTARY & INSIGHT. Web. 03 Mar. 2011.
Christian Mayeaux
Professor Marty Russell
Liba 102
8 April 2011
The Persuasiveness of Advertisements
Advertisements are a powerful example of persuasion in journalism. In our lives we have no time to devote to deciding what is best to wear, read, or listen to. Society has outsourced this need to journalist. One of the jobs journalists have is to inform an audience what they need to hear. This concept extends beyond just bringing news to the public. The overwhelming presence of advertising in our lives dictates who we listen to, what we buy, and who we trust. Journalist have a duty to the people to decide what products are good and bad for the public just as they decide what is news and what is not. Making these choices requires a level expertise and subtlety to create a very persuasive environment.
There are many factors that contribute to the persuasiveness of an advertisement but probably the most important of these being inspiring confidence in the audience. Advertisements seem to relying on conveying a catharsis set emotions to the audience. Advertisements should help people trust the advertiser by not sacrificing long-range trust for a short-term goal
These prior factors are very abstract and rooted more in observation. The language of an advertisement is something the viewer can point to and “measure” the persuasiveness of an advertisement. Factors like verb usage, precise diction, and detail all contribute to the advertisement. Persuasive advertisements use verbs instead of adjectives to describe the product
In closing, advertisements just another informative choice delegated to the field of journalism. Just like any other choice these journalists make, a level of persuasion is needed to convince the viewer of the advertisement’s importance. Journalist use their intimate knowledge of the English language along with a well-defined understanding of the audience to achieve this persuasiveness.
Bibliography
Allstate. Advertisements. TNT Mar. 2011. Television.
Nationwide. Advertisement. TNT Mar. 2011. Television.
Stovall, James Glen. Writing for the Mass Media. New York: Pearson, 2009.
Christian Mayeaux
Professor Marty Russell
Liba 102
29 April, 2011
Journalism and the BP Oil Spill
The mass media had a profound effect on the perception of and reaction to the BP Oil Spill. When looking back on this tragic event it is very hard to find figures or news that do not create a sense of panic and hopelessness within the reader. The ongoing news coverage during the BP oil spill rarely gave signs of optimism and, in fact, perpetuated a feeling of doom. Several factors played into this build-up of negative feedback. The first and probably most recognized reason was the misinterpretation of estimates as facts. Over the span of three months, many figures were published about the oil spill regarding size and flow rate of the oil spill. Each time a new figure was published the media would jump on the opportunity and flood the channels with the announcements of new “factual” evidence. While these figures were calculated by reputable firms and reasonable methods they still remained rough evidentiary findings. The next factor has to do with the media’s complete disregard for perspective and history. During the BP crisis, the oil spill was heralded as the worst oil spill in the history of the industry (Telegraph). While not denying that this oil spill was a tragedy, the resulting clean-up and various other factors have shown that other oil spills far surpass BP’s accident. The most prominent of these other spills would be the Kuwait oil fires and the Gulf War oil spill. While these spills did occur under different circumstances and environment they still are able to put a little perspective on the severity of the BP oil spill.
The passing off of evidence as “fact” is one factor that affected the perception of the BP oil spill. When the oil rig first exploded the existence of a leak in the pipes was actually unsure. When the Coast Guard reached the scene of the spill there was actually no perceived oil flow to be seen (Nichols). A Coast Guard spokeswoman stated, “A remotely operated unmanned submarine sent down Thursday to inspect the scene found no oil leaking from the sunken Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and no oil flowing from the well, reducing the risk a major spill.” (Nichols). However, in the upcoming days an oil leak was spotted and reported by the USCG. As much as 1,000 barrels of oil was estimated to be leaking from an unknown source of the rig (CBC News). Up to this point the estimates remained to be estimates. Local and national news stations remained objective in their usage of the data reminding their audience that actual figures were still not known (Gargulio). However, as time passed and the oil leak remained unstopped the media began to vigorously search for a concrete number to give to the people. The USCG later revised their initial statement and amended it to around 5,000 barrels of oil a day (BBC News). Another independent source called Skytruth estimated the oil spill to be growing at an astounding 25,000 barrels a day (Cart). Yet another figure was published saying the rate of oil flow was anywhere between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels of oil a day (CNN). These figures were published only days apart from each other.
The constant approval and revision of known “facts” is what helped the perception of this oil spill grow into such a monstrous event. In reality the oil spill was a serious matter but the severity may have been grossly exaggerated. Final oil flow rate estimates rested at around 62,000 barrels of oil a day (Achenbach et al). These numbers were quickly spread by the media, heralding them as the end all figures of the BP oil spill. However, these figures are incomplete without looking into outside factors. One interesting variable that was not account for in the development of the early figures was the lack of deep water instrumentation to verify the figures produced. It was only near the tail end of the spill did the government have pressure sensors and a high definition camera on the leak site. With these instruments the figures could be thoroughly analyzed. Another unseen factor was the evaporation of the surface slick (New York Times). Up to 40% of the oil may have just evaporated straight into the atmosphere (New York Times). The rapid dissipation of the oil was speculated by many scientists as a result of natural breakdown of the oil by bacteria, wind helping the evaporation process, and the clean-up effort by BP. Natural breakdown came in the form of natural currents, osmosis, and storms. As time passed more and more of the oil particles slowly but surely separated into their simple forms. This was aided by chemical dispersants that acted as a catalyst to the natural breakdown. Dispersants such as Corexit 9500 and Corexit (R)EC9527A were the primary chemicals used during the BP oil spill (Renner). The actual numbers on the success have yet to be published but firsthand accounts have verified their success to some extent. By the time dispersant affected oil reached the beach the toxicity of that oil was non-existent (Garriga). The once crude, sticky was reduced to harmless tar balls and could actually be handled with the bare hand without harm (Garriga). In fact, the dispersant effect oil rarely even reached the shoreline as a liquid (Garriga). In addition to the dispersant, BP was able to collect a large quantity of oil-water mixture effectively removing a large portion of the oil spill. Up to 890,000 barrels of oil were successful gathered and processed by BP (RestoreTheGulf.gov).
The facts are presented to diminish the catastrophic scene that the media presented to the public’s eye. News sources were constantly emphasizing the long term environmental and economic effects but failed to recognize the amount of recovery that was taking place right below their nose. In the span of three months, BP was able to halt what could have been the worst oil spill in the entire history of the industry by a long shot. The media would have liked to believe. However, looking at the spill from a global perspective changes everything.
Arguably the worst oil spill of all time were the Kuwaiti oil fires and lakes associated with Iraq’s invasion of the small US ally. In total, around 1.5 billion barrels of oil were lost when many of Kuwait’s oil fields were set ablaze by retreating Iraqi troops (Chilcote). On top of this, nearly 10 million barrels of additional oil were poured directly in the Persian Gulf by Saddam Hussein to keep them from allied hands. When comparing the BP oil spill to the hardships faced by the Kuwaiti’s they are grossly disproportionate. The United States should consider itself lucky that the technology and leadership is present and willing to do everything to correct mistakes.
In closing, the BP oil spill was a tragic and horrible event that should be treated with care by the mass media. However, the media cannot deny its one primary function; the media exist to bring the news to the public in a timely manner and accurate format. The news reports following the initial oil spill was strict protocol. The news stations were bringing news to the public. However, as the crisis continued on the use of figures became the primary source of news material. Every news station was vying to produce the timeliest figures and in turn sacrificed perspective, accuracy, and subsequent relief effort results. News stations have a duty to bring up to date information to the public, but at what cost? Should media provide any and all information regardless of context or variable consideration? The BP oil spill is a great example of how timeliness is not always the best news making factor. Other factors such as impact, accuracy, and outside perspective should play a certain role in tempering a news story for the public. The mass media must maintain a creative circle; a balance between repression of information and the complete exuding of every data point at every second. Somewhere in between these two extremes lies the true purpose and balance of the mass media.
Works Cited
Achenbach, Joel, and David A. Fahrenthold. "Oil Spill Dumped 4.9 Million Barrels into Gulf of Mexico, Latest Measure Shows." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
"BBC News - US Military Joins Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Effort." BBC News - Home. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
"BP Leak the World's Worst Accidental Oil Spill - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. 3 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Cart, Julie. "Oil Spill Map | Tiny Group Has Big Impact on Spill Estimates - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 01 May 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Gargulio, Jordan. Oil Spill Interview. Christian Mayeaux. April 2011.
Garriga, Matthew. Oil Spill Interview. Christian Mayeaux. April 2011.
Home | RestoreTheGulf.gov. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Cilcote. "Kuwait Still Recovering from Gulf War Fires - CNN." Featured Articles from CNN. 03 Jan. 2003. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
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