Hurricane Hurricane Katrina CoverageKatrina Coverage

Nathalie Kanicki, Danny Nathalie Kanicki, Danny Rohde, Eric Smith, Jordan Rohde, Eric Smith, Jordan

Swift, and Jessica Wasniewski Swift, and Jessica Wasniewski

NBC NewsNBC News, Summer 2005—, Summer 2005—Hurricane Dennis CoverageHurricane Dennis Coverage

Hurricane Denis vs. Hurricane Hurricane Denis vs. Hurricane Katrina coverageKatrina coverage

““Here in Panama City Beach, the Here in Panama City Beach, the main story is debris.”main story is debris.”

Inland flooding vs. ChaosInland flooding vs. Chaos Confidence vs. Fear and ConcernConfidence vs. Fear and Concern

CBS NEWSCBS NEWS, August 29, 2005- , August 29, 2005- Ineffective CoverageIneffective Coverage

Hurricane Katrina was downgraded to a Category 3

“The city of New Orleans has perhaps dodged a significant bullet”

“When you watch the eye go past New Orleans, it skidded about 20 miles east, which apparently made all the difference”

This news coverage was framed to appear as if New Orleans was safe

CNNCNN—Effective Coverage—Effective Coverage Interview with Jeanne Meserve—CNN Interview with Jeanne Meserve—CNN

correspondentcorrespondent People are shell-shocked, referred to as People are shell-shocked, referred to as

refugeesrefugees Element of just saving lives right now.Element of just saving lives right now. Shows main points of the complete Shows main points of the complete

devastation of New Orleans neighborhoods.devastation of New Orleans neighborhoods. Documenting the difficulties in getting Documenting the difficulties in getting

people help.people help. People with limited resources.People with limited resources.

CNNCNN, “Relief Workers , “Relief Workers Confront ‘Urban Warfare’,” Confront ‘Urban Warfare’,”

September 1, 2005—September 1, 2005—Ineffective CoverageIneffective Coverage

Framed as a “war zone”Framed as a “war zone” ““Urban Warfare”Urban Warfare” Characterized looting and events at Characterized looting and events at

the convention center as violent, the convention center as violent, widespread, and irrational.widespread, and irrational.

Constructed the notion that victims Constructed the notion that victims were “armed miscreants”were “armed miscreants”

Second hand accounts of events at Second hand accounts of events at the convention centerthe convention center

Chicago Public RadioChicago Public Radio, , September 9, 2005—September 9, 2005—Effective ReportingEffective Reporting

After the FloodAfter the Flood, This American Life. , This American Life. Interview with Denise Moore, Interview with Denise Moore, Hurricane Katrina Survivor.Hurricane Katrina Survivor.

Witnessed armed men taking charge Witnessed armed men taking charge and protecting women and children.and protecting women and children.

Looting for food and water to Looting for food and water to distribute to people at the convention distribute to people at the convention center, “like Robin Hood.”center, “like Robin Hood.”

Firsthand account contests reports Firsthand account contests reports that victims were violentthat victims were violent

ConclusionsConclusions "Both media reporting and official "Both media reporting and official

discourse following Hurricane Katrina discourse following Hurricane Katrina upheld the mythical notion that upheld the mythical notion that disasters result in lawlessness and disasters result in lawlessness and social breakdown....even while engaging social breakdown....even while engaging extensively in both reporting and public extensively in both reporting and public service, the media also presented highly service, the media also presented highly oversimplified and distorted oversimplified and distorted characterizations of the human characterizations of the human response to the Katrina catastrophe.” –response to the Katrina catastrophe.” –Metaphor MattersMetaphor Matters by Tierney et al. by Tierney et al.