Three Views of 9/11 News Coverage

Credit: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep11.html

It’s been 10 years since my Dad shook me awake early one September morning to come watch the news. Climbing in bed with my mom, we sat huddled together in our pajamas and watched the horror taking place on the East Coast of the United States. The smoke, the rubble, the confusion, the screeching sirens, and the faces of terrified New Yorkers ran by on the screen. The news coverage that fateful day was almost identical. Words were of no use, it was all said by the footage and photos streaming in from professionals and amateurs alike.

As we approach the 10 years anniversary of 9/11 different media outlets are approaching the milestone differently. Some are relying on the emotional appeal and pulling again at the heartstrings of Americans to remember those we lost that day. Others are focusing the conflicts in the Middle East that are directly connected to the attacks. Opinion blogs, aftermath reports, and updates on the heroes who rose to the occasion can be found on the front pages of almost any news site.

Time.com has a main feature section dedicated to covering all aspects of 9/11. From the faces of those in charge that day that everyone can recognize, to unknown heroes on the ground, the multi-media presentation entitled Portraits of Resilence is a must see. It does an incredible job of correctly using an interactive presentation to create a dramatic impact.  Four separate pieces come together in one presentation examining the terrorist attacks from four different perspectives.

While Time has focused on revisiting the events of the tragedy, NBC New York has chosen to publish pieces regarding how life is still moving through the effects of 9/11. Because of the magnitude of the terrorists’ actions, any small story related to it becomes newsworthy. Its article on lawmaker’s plea to add cancer to the list of diseases qualifying for assistance for those who helped rescue and rebuild New York City receives higher placement than normal political action because of the drama added by the approaching anniversary. The article is filled with links to other information as well as a video profiling an everyday person struggling with the aftereffects of being a first responder. This is a very effective accompaniment because it gives the story a face.

NPR’s approach to covering the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 is to focus more on interactivity with the readers. They have a forum asking the audience to provide one word to describe the attacks. This conversation starter is extremely effective because readers are getting pulled in to read what others have chosen as their one word before providing their own. This emotional appeal works well on multiple levels.

All of these websites have the same basic story to cover, but all have taken a different approach to put their own spin on the topic and draw the audience in. Emotional appeal is a given when discussing a story with national attention that all consider the greatest tragedy in the history of the United States. Looking at it from the eyes of the Administration, or the first responders, or even the children now living without parents gives a new meaning to September 11th. It’s the job of the media to tell all these stories and to make sure no one ever forgets the way the world changed that day.