London Bombing Terrorist Attacks - British Newspaper Owner Highlights the Importance of Responsible Media Coverage.
Fowarding Unnesescary terror by media causes stress and ill health.
(PRWEB) July 8, 2005 -- Serious health concerns were raised today in London
by media professionals as a result of media coverage resulting from the
terrorist attacks.
For many years the effect of bad news on people has
been a subject of intense debate among people journalists and media
professionals. In London today as the stark contrast of the elation and joy in
the capital caused by London winning the Olympic bid turned to the horror of
today's shocking terrorist reality, the hidden additional but nevertheless very
real threat of the media itself contributing to the chaos, came sharply into
focus. TV Radio and print media channels immediately sprung into their habitual
routine of pumping out a solid communication diet of terror chaos and upset on
all channels.
Triggering stressful memories of past upsetting incidents
the media machine forwarded chaos and contributed and heightened the climate of
fear.
Mr. John Mappin, a British newspaper owner, has been at the
forefront of highlighting this important media issue.
“Today is a day
when we have seen the worst of human nature and the best possible human
qualities on display.”
Said, John Mappin, Chairman of United National
Newspapers.
“The courage and resolve of those who refuse to allow
terrorism to cloud their understanding of man's basic goodness will be the key
factor that determines whether we rise or fall as a result of this
day.”
“It is extremely important that the media who report such tragedy
do not fall into the trap of forwarding the terror and fear unnecessarily. For
in so doing they themselves become merchants of chaos serving those who would
have us hate.”
“When news organizations fall into the trap of
electrifying their audiences they at once also start to serve those who would
wish to divide us.”
"Unnecessary repetition of tragedy on news channels
only adds to and causes stress and increased trauma for people."
"Factually it can make people extremely sick and
ill."
"Terrorists understand this and rely upon such ignorance within
media channels to further the negative effects that their actions
create."
"As owners of United National Newspapers we are committed to
forwarding positive news that benefits mankind. We call upon all media
professionals to challenge ourselves once again to gain additional understanding
from the events of today."
"Let’s realise that the knee jerk political
reactions of 9/11 did not work and where they were lacking in reason they have
lead to more violence. Most importantly, let us realise as media professionals
that what we choose to forward on one continent can have a dramatic effect on
another."
"When we forward unnecessary terror we are ourselves
contributing to the chaos stress and ill health of the world."
"Today we
have a choice as media professionals to contribute to and forward the cycle of
violence or to take a higher wiser road."
“It indeed takes the greatest
wisdom possible to see good in a terrible thing. But perhaps this is the
important opportunity afforded the world on this day.”
“To love in spite
of every possible reason and invitation to hate is the road to true
greatness.”
“And, may very well be, as one wise man wrote, the greatest
secret in this universe.”
“Revenge and retaliation are acts of
foolishness and do not result in the peaceful world which all sane men
desire.”
“As a Newspaper Group we feel that it is time to really call to
account and question all those who are engaged in both the creating and
forwarding a climate of fear and chaos and to question if the practice of
forwarding and the needless repetition of terrifying stressful news is really
helpful to the people and the audiences that we serve.”
“Delivering the
news to a nation or to a planet is a valuable duty and a tremendous
responsibility.”
“It is something that we all, to some degree, share.”
Said Mr. Mappin.
In London and around the world people are becoming
increasingly affected by the "diet" of communication that they receive on a
daily basis.
An unhealthy communication diet affects a person's state of
mind.
As observed today in London and around the world it is now clear
that "the communication diet" has a great deal to do with the health and welfare
of individuals and global populations. United National Newspapers is not alone
in calling for more investigation on the effects created by the unnecessary
forwarding of negative news and for tremendous care and thought to be invested
in the forwarding of all news during such incidents.
United National
Newspapers.
For more details contact John Mappin 07770 671 650.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb259529.htm