[See SAJAforum's full coverage of the Mumbai attacks]
We recently heard from National Public Radio's Madhulika Sikka about how her network managed its coverage of the Mumbai attacks (NPR's Comprehensive Coverage). In that post we also noted all the reporting done by NPR's New Delhi correspondent, Philip Reeves. He just sent us his own thoughts on covering the attacks - including how his job was in some ways made easier - and offers a critique of the media's handling of the crisis. These are his personal thoughts, and don't represent NPR.
On the assignment and its challenges:
The assault on Mumbai was not an easy assignment. It unfolded
on multiple fronts. There were three sieges at once. There were
hundreds of unanswered questions. The attacks raised key issues -
domestic politics, geopolitics, security, international terrorism,
economics and more. All sorts of conflicting claims filled the air
waves - as always happens in the aftermath of attacks. All had to be
treated with care. The Indian and international electronic have grown a
great deal in recent years: Officials were overwhelmed with a flood of
demands for instant information. There were so many reporters and
cameramen that it was simply impossible at times to get anywhere near
some of the officials involved, because they were swamped and drowned
out by yelling. The demand for material from NPR headquarters was
naturally very high; the story could hardly have been more important,
or more dramatic.
On access, and the kindness of strangers:
However, some of the conditions in Mumbai were helpful. One
was the amazing candour and generosity of the Mumbai people. They were
willing, in this time of tragedy, to spend time talking about what
happened, and what it might mean. They offered help in finding places;
advice about who to talk to, and more. Another was the access we all
had. You could see a fair amount of what was going on. For a radio
correspondent, this is obviously important: it means I was able at
times to describe the scene with a fair amount of detail. And I was
able to get close enough to hear and record the battles as they played
out; this also helped me convey a picture of events to the audience.
On media hype:
Overall, I personally feel the coverage of this issue raised
some important issues for the mainstream media which now need to be
addressed by our industry. There were moments when the media coverage,
especially on TV, seemed to me to be hysterical, self-aggrandizing and
lacking the right "tone" - by which I mean, a sense that this was a
tragedy which had caused great pain to many, many people. The response
of the public on the internet to the media coverage of the Mumbai
attacks suggests that we in the electronic news business have to
reflect on this.
Please leave your comments below.
Here are some of Philip's reports from Mumbai and its aftermath (full list here, along with his bio), ending with his earliest reports:
