The latest bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria have been the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history. Close to 200 people are dead, and the death toll continues to rise. Entire communities no longer exist on the map and the prospect of rebuilding seems impossible and overwhelming. With all that sadness and tragedy, it gives the media a chance to score a big story.
Journalists have got the words down pat; ‘tragedy strikes’, ‘hell on earth’, ’state inferno’, just to name a few. Yes, they need to be there to cover these stories and let us know what is happening, but it is when they purposefully drive a couple to the ashes of their former home, and film every last bit of emotion, tears and heartbreak, that you have to wonder if they really care, or is this the biggest scoop they have seen all year.
If I hear another journalist ask someone who has lost everything, ” What are you feeling now?”, I will throw up. How do you think they feel? What answer do you possibly think you will get? It’s almost like they ask the question that will guarantee a tear or two, or if they are lucky, complete emotional breakdown.
These television presenters, news anchors and roving reporters come dressed in appropriate ‘gear’ for the event. In this case, we see them in Akubra hats, Drizabone coats, fireproof suits, as well as the ever so casual open necked shirt and jeans. They have to look like the locals. They can’t be accused of looking like a reporter or a member of the media. Looking like one of the locals gives them more of a chance to ‘connect’ with the locals, and with any luck, get inside stories of survival. The best story gets the best ratings, and when the next journalism awards presentation comes around, it may very well be their network that scores big for their coverage of the worst natural disaster ever to hit the country.
I have stopped watching the news now. The media sicken me, as they don’t really care. The only time I think it truly rocked them was when they were talking about a fellow colleague, former longtime Melbourne newsreader Brian Naylor, who perished in the fire in the small town of Kinglake along with his wife. It was only then did we see hard nosed, unemotional journalists truly realise the extent of this tragedy.
The worst thing about this is that half, yes half, of the fires were deliberately lit. It is unfathomable to think that someone could do this knowing what it would do. We all knew that last Saturday was going to be the hottest day in Victoria’s history; it tuned out to be the hottest day an Australian capital city has ever experienced at 46.4 degrees celsius. The hot northerly winds were vicious. To think that someone on Friday was preparing to set the state ablaze is one of the most horrific things I can think of. They are serial killers who have a compulsion, but their compulsion is fire. What should be their punishment? Send them to the Antarctic where they will never see fire or warmth of any kind again. Nothing will burn there. They love fire so much, deprive them of it for the rest of their lives. Torture them with pictures of ice, cold, and not a clue that warmth of any kind exists. Do that for the term of their natural lives.
There are many bushfire appeals happening all over the country. The Red Cross in Australia would be the best way to donate should you feel the need to. Whole communities have nothing, absolutely nothing. No schools, homes, hospitals, supermarkets…nothing. Anything you can give will help. Remember that there are fires still burning, and more tragedy will surely come of it.
Let us all pray that we never see this day repeated ever again.
Enjoy your day…donate now and at least make somebody’s day enjoyable too, at least for a little while.
