Reporting on Disaster

I like maps. Properly used, they can put things into perspective quickly. This is why the reporting on the New Orleans mess has been frustrating: very few maps. They've shown us where the levee breaks are, but not where all the incidents around the city are.

Where are the refugees?

Where are the temporary hospitals (and how many are there)?

Where are the National Guard soldiers deployed?

Where are rescue workers getting shot at?

Where is looting taking place?

Where are the fires?

Where are the streets dry?

I want to see the whole thing in proper perspective. Anecdotes and first-person tales of survival (or loss) are emotionally stirring, but not useful unless they're typical.

Also, New Rule for the TV reporting: No Video older than 24 hours.

You wanna use a scene again? Shoot it again. Make Sure It's Still There.

I think I'm going to shut out the TV news for a week, and just read print media.