On Thursday night I attended a lecture about Pan Am flight #103. This lecture was different in that it included 5 panelists who answered questions throughout the session. While it was still heart tugging, it discussed more the role the media played, and the lesson the media learned in the time of this tragedy.
One of the speakers that shared most of her story was Joan Deppa. She began by recounting the day she heard the tragic news. A few days later, Deppa attended the vigil for the 35 students who lost their lives. As she saw people coming up the stairs, she was shocked at rude and merciless the media was toward them. This, she said, was the moment she noticed a lack of knowledge in how to handle a crisis situation by the media.
As each panelists discussed this topic, it became evident that each person had seen the negative way many communication professionals managed the tragedy. Many reporters filmed extremely powerful scenes, such as parents and friends sobbing, even puking, uncontrollably. Many media professionals came together and decided a person could not control his or her self, they should not be filmed or interviewed.
This situation also showed a clear lack in knowledge, in students and reporters alike, of how to assess a crisis. But also, this situation proved to be an important lesson for the government. At a national level, the flight #103 tragedy was ignored. Some panelists agreed that had this story not been ignored…9/11 would have never happened.
Finally, Joan Deppa ended the lecture with some incredible advice for anyone entering the media industry. She concluded, “You have to have the ability to be accurate. These were ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Don’t be afraid to sway toward human compassion with what you are up against. Rely on your own sense of ethics and have confidence at early age.”