Today, Britain is bracing itself for a big storm that's expected to hit tomorrow. Particularly affected areas of the UK are expected to be Devon, Cornwall and Wales, and other areas across the south and west.
The BBC website at the moment says this:
"The Environment Agency is urging people to stay away from coastal areas, particularly in Wales, and the south west and north west of England, from Sunday to Wednesday.
David Rooke, head of risk management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC the predicted combination of up to 80mph gusts and higher than normal tides are likely to lead to flooding in coastal areas.
David Rooke, head of risk management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC the predicted combination of up to 80mph gusts and higher than normal tides are likely to lead to flooding in coastal areas.
John Mosedale, from Environment Agency Wales, advised people against going to the coast to watch the rough seas and big waves because of the danger of being swept out to sea. "
This is the current question the BBC requesting viewers to comment on:
"Do you live in the regions which could be affected by the storms? How are you preparing? Send us your experiences using the form below."
Earlier this morning, (before 9am Sunday 9th March) the storm was high up on the news agenda on BBC News 24. Despite the severe weather warnings and the warnings that lives could be at risk, in ONE instance, one of the presenters remarked after saying how bad it was going to be, something along the lines of 'and don't forget to send in your piccies.'
Sometime after this comment was made, the main presenter spoke directly into the camera more-or-less reiterating not to go near the coast, promenades etc. as it's highly dangerous and you could be killed.
The previous remark is direct encouragement of citizen journalism. Many people, arguably will place their personal safety over 'getting the stormy-Kodak-moment'. But what about those who may go out because of the encouragement given my the news outlets. They may put their lives at risk to contribute to the news.
Media outlets may send out their cameramen and reporters to areas which will be hit by this storm, but these outings are professionally organised with risk assessments, and insured by the corporation. Conversely, if the risk assessment shows risks are too high, the organisation will not allow it to go ahead.
Will a citizen journalist think the same way? I highly doubt it. The only insurance they may get to claim on is that of life.
What threat to traditional reporting practices does this pose - the potential bad (in more ways than one) news of dead viewers.
We will wait and see what 'piccies' we get tomorrow.
2 comments:
Near real-time sea level data from the UK Tide Gauge Network is available for download from the British Oceanographic Data Centre.
The UK National Tide Gauge Network of 45 tide gauges was set up as a result of severe flooding along the east coast of England in 1953 and is now owned and funded by the Environment Agency.
I must say the same thoughts crossed my mind when i read the comments from the environment agency...they do say great minds think alike.
Its apparrent that some people have ignored the warnings and have perhaps got too close to the giant waves as some of this citizen journalist pictures shows
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7287249.stm
You're right though, I'm sure there are many places where journalists could get could images and video content of the severe conditions for news programs but havn't due to the risks. I agree that a citizen journalist will not be thinking like this, especially if they think they can get their fifteen minutes...or is that seconds...of fame.
Of course, perhaps a person would get more news coverage than they ever dreamed of...if the unthinkable happened and they were washed out to sea and drowned if they got too close to the 'action'
Thankfully this hasn't happened and we can only hope it doesn't.
Post a Comment