Sept. 11, 2002 is an important day of reflection, and an opportunity to remember an event that changed a nation and to honor lives lost to terrorism. It will also be an important news day for media world-wide.
But Will Norton Jr., dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is concerned that the media may take its coverage a bit too far.
"A week ahead of the anniversary we were already being overwhelmed by the amount of coverage, seeing the images over and over of planes flying into buildings and distraught World Trade Center workers leaping from their offices. We are already being haunted by emotional images, and we have been for a year. Imagine what the media coverage will be like on Sept. 11," said Norton, former president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Instead of overwhelming media audiences by featuring emotions, heartache, terror and violence, the media should use its role and power to examine ways to assure that events of Sept. 11, 2001 never happen again -- instead of focusing on nostalgia, sorrow and anger, Norton said.
"Yes, we still are angry, and emotions are high. And yes, we lost a lot of people in these terrible events. This affected everyone profoundly." Norton said. "But how do we keep the public rhetoric focused on solving the problems that caused the attack? We don't do it, as media, by pandering. That's not what audiences need."
Television news and feature programming, news magazines, newspapers, books, radio and Web sites could reach a point of overload during the Sept. 11 anniversary week, Norton said, and he can't help but believe that some coverage will be motivated by advertising or ratings -- or by the tendency for media toward "herd mentality."
"Some media will not do the special sections or programs," Norton said, and some will treat the topic with proper focus and perspective. Clearly, there will be some great journalism. Admittedly, audiences are interested in stories of reflection, but he hoped that the emotionalism would be kept in perspective.
"Our role in the media is asking ourselves 'how do we keep this from getting out of control'?" said Norton. Editors, publishers and producers will be asking the same question as coverage begins to unfold. Norton said he would advocate stories with forward-thinking angles and a dose of moderation.
"If we don't want (events like) this to happen again, then our role in media is to see if we can examine where we need to improve as a nation. We need to take a practical approach and work on solving problems, rather than continuing to look back."
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