What Constitutes a National Tragedy?

[emailfailed]

On television news I've been hearing some people refer to the Joplin, Missouri tornado as "a national tragedy."

Not to lesson those going through the trauma of this disaster, but this seems more like a "regional tragedy" rather than "a national tragedy" and quite frankly affects a small portion of the nation.

Going back, for those who remember the "Baby Jessica" story was referred by a few in the media as "a national tragedy," despite the fact this event had absolutely no affect on the daily business of the country, unlike, say, ------ the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

So my question, as far as television news is concerned who, or what powers that be, make the call to deem a news story "a national tragedy?" Or, is "national tragedy" one of those meanings often misused in television news like "breaking news" and added into news stories dismissively without any thought?

 

[sdwulfdawg]

On television news I've been hearing some people refer to the Joplin, Missouri tornado as "a national tragedy."

Not to lesson those going through the trauma of this disaster, but this seems more like a "regional tragedy" rather than "a national tragedy" and quite frankly affects a small portion of the nation.

Going back, for those who remember the "Baby Jessica" story was referred by a few in the media as "a national tragedy," despite the fact this event had absolutely no affect on the daily business of the country, unlike, say, ------ the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

So my question, as far as television news is concerned who, or what powers that be, make the call to deem a news story "a national tragedy?" Or, is "national tragedy" one of those meanings often misused in television news like "breaking news" and added into news stories dismissively without any thought?

Sounds more like a "national tragedy" du jour. Guess 9/11 was a blip.

Seriously though, it sounds more like a young crappy newswriter who has not lived through true national tragedy as the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, etc.

 

[Mario500]

On television news I've been hearing some people refer to the Joplin, Missouri tornado as "a national tragedy."

Could you mention these people in particular? I have only heard the president of the United States refer to the situation as a national tragedy. I guess the story of the tornado being reported to the rest of the country makes some folks think of it as a national tragedy.

Seriously though, it sounds more like a young crappy newswriter who has not lived through true national tragedy as the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, etc.

If you cannot say or type anything pleasant, don't do either one until you have the will to express yourself pleasantly.

 

[whit979]

If you cannot say or type anything pleasant, don't do either one until you have the will to express yourself pleasantly.

Ouch. What got under your skin so early in the day?

He makes a valid point. Too many reporters and news writers are quick to throw out the term "tragedy" and embellish it with words like "national," "global," "of epic proportions," etc. because they don't understand the newswriting concept of "show, don't tell." In other words, don't tell me that this is a tragedy -- show me the devastation and paint a picture with action verbs (not adjectives and nominatives like "national tragedy") so I can reach that determination for myself. This is an idea that's regularly pushed in college intro communication courses because of how well it worked with reporters like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, but many modern-day reporters fail to practice this concept, likely a result of the current practice of playing-up every story that comes across the wire as "breaking news."

 

[Mario500]

Ouch. What got under your skin so early in the day?

Sorry if what I typed sounded or appeared mean-spirited, I'm just tired of reading message board posts with language I cannot imagine folks using in front of the people they know and love. The Internet sadly brings out the worse in some folks.

As for terms like "national" and "tragedy", more news writers, news presenters, and news reporters in broadcasting need to stop being so dramatic just because they share the same mediums used for works of fiction and focus on the facts, including who, what where, when, and why (also known as "W5", as said by Linda Ellerbee on "Nick News").

 

[pab]

I think that the whole recent string of tornadoes throughout the south and now in the northeast constitutes a national tragedy put all together. Joplin itself was certainly a tragedy.

 

[recto101]

On television news I've been hearing some people refer to the Joplin, Missouri tornado as "a national tragedy."

Not to lesson those going through the trauma of this disaster, but this seems more like a "regional tragedy" rather than "a national tragedy" and quite frankly affects a small portion of the nation.

Going back, for those who remember the "Baby Jessica" story was referred by a few in the media as "a national tragedy," despite the fact this event had absolutely no affect on the daily business of the country, unlike, say, ------ the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

So my question, as far as television news is concerned who, or what powers that be, make the call to deem a news story "a national tragedy?" Or, is "national tragedy" one of those meanings often misused in television news like "breaking news" and added into news stories dismissively without any thought?

I thought the assasination attempts on Congresswoman Giffords in 2011 and the assasination attempts on Reagan in the 1980's count as national tragedies and the death of US Soldiers in a war zone and death of NASA Astronaut count as national tragedies and the 9/11 attacks and the OKC 1995 atttack and the 2010 attack on the IRS building. mainly because it happens on Federal Property or the person works for the Federal Government.




But the 1999 Columbine attacks and 2007 Virgina Tech shooting took place on state property and it was counted as national tragedy.

 

[LKellerIII]

I believe it was President Obama who first refered to Joplin as a "national tragedy," during his visit there. I think he did it to make the point that it was worthy of federal relief funding, and is something all Americans can sympathize with.

In that sense - a tornado in Joplin, the flooding of New Orleans, or the major earthquake in San Francisco can all be considered national tragedies. Do these things have the same impact as a terrorist attack on New York that killed 3000 people and started two wars? Of course not. I don't think Obama or any of the news outlets were trying to make that claim.

Jeez, people - to quote Pat Paulsen; "Picky, picky, picky." Don't you have anything more important to complain about than this?

 

[KentBrockman]

Froot Loops + no milk in the fridge = national tragedy

 

[1069_KIFR]

'After M*A*S*H', now that was a national disaster!!!!

 

[KeithE4]

Froot Loops + no milk in the fridge = national tragedy

Light beer = national tragedy. ;D

 

[Nate Wesley]

I think that the whole recent string of tornadoes throughout the south and now in the northeast constitutes a national tragedy put all together. Joplin itself was certainly a tragedy.

This. It's not a 'national' tragedy in the normal sense it might connote, but the President felt compelled to personally visit recovery efforts in both places.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

On television news I've been hearing some people refer to the Joplin, Missouri tornado as "a national tragedy."

Not to lesson those going through the trauma of this disaster, but this seems more like a "regional tragedy" rather than "a national tragedy" and quite frankly affects a small portion of the nation.

What we seem to have here is case of semantics.

Does an event with a bad outcome become a national tragedy based on how many people and/or how many acres are actually affected by the event, or based on how widely scattered the people who care about the event are.

One could try to make the argument that when John F. Kennedy was shot, it was just one more downtown mugging gone bad in Dallas.

When Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on a motel balcony in Memphis, it was just one more death in a community that some cynics called "Murder City".

I would make the argument that any event that attracts and arouses "the attention of the public" nationally is by definition "a national tragedy.

 

[KeithE4]

I think that the whole recent string of tornadoes throughout the south and now in the northeast constitutes a national tragedy put all together. Joplin itself was certainly a tragedy.

This. It's not a 'national' tragedy in the normal sense it might connote, but the President felt compelled to personally visit recovery efforts in both places.

It's more of a Clintonesque "I feel your pain" moment/photo-op than a national tragedy. All Presidents do it. At least, Obama didn't yell "Yer doin' a heckofa job, Fugie!" (W. Craig Fugate, the current FEMA head) . ;D

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

It's more of a Clintonesque "I feel your pain" moment/photo-op than a national tragedy. All Presidents do it. At least, Obama didn't yell "Yer doin' a heckofa job, Fugie!" (W. Craig Fugate, the current FEMA head) . ;D

I have this memory of George W. Bush flying over New Orleans, looking out the window and proceeding on the Washington. He took a lot of heat for NOT stopping to say "I feel your pain."

Barak Obama flies in to say: "I feel your pain" and he takes a lot of heat of making a useless stop.

What is the lesson? No matter what a president chooses to do, half the people of the nation will applaud, and half the people will give a "Bronx Cheer".

And in Joplin, there are residents today who feel so good about the visit, and residents who give a Bronx Cheer.

 

[Markxxx]

To me a national tragedy or a national event, effects most of the nation, if not all of it, on some scale.

9-11 was a good example, as it brought new laws in every airport in the nation and established a new cabinet post and changed the way we view things.

Oklahoma City bombing also did this, as all federal buildings all over the country were refitted to prevent truck bombs

The anthrax attacks were another example as it brought new rules to mailings throughout the nation.

Regional events or disasters would have less reaching effects. For instance, an earthquake in LA may delay TV and movies being made so that would effect the nation a bit, but not change the whole structure.

A localized event is the Joplin tornado, which didn't really concern anyone outside of the area or their relations.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Ouch. What got under your skin so early in the day?

Sorry if what I typed sounded or appeared mean-spirited, I'm just tired of reading message board posts with language I cannot imagine folks using in front of the people they know and love. The Internet sadly brings out the worse in some folks.

As for terms like "national" and "tragedy", more news writers, news presenters, and news reporters in broadcasting need to stop being so dramatic just because they share the same mediums used for works of fiction and focus on the facts, including who, what where, when, and why (also known as "W5", as said by Linda Ellerbee on "Nick News").

Mario, you kind of showed up the difference about someone who is obviously lurking on here vs. someone like myself who works in TV news in front and in back of the camera. A television newsroom, unfortunately, is no different like a gladiator ring. You either withstand being bitten and be told the story you've worked on all day is total crap or have it yanked off the air because of breaking news (faux or not), the producer made a miscalculation in the rundown, etc. You survive in the newsroom by doing good work but also being able to survive a producer/director yelling at you and then going to dinner with them after the show.

I go out of my way to practice civility in the newsroom, but if I read something a young intern newswriter is totally wrong or badly written, I will tell them in the nicest way, but if I'm not getting through the haze, I will be totally honest with them and use whatever language is appropriate.

That, Mario, is the truth of the biz.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

A localized event is the Joplin tornado, which didn't really concern anyone outside of the area or their relations.

This really isn't a question that deserves a whole lot of worry on our part. What we may decide in this forum will not change how the world works.

But I am going to offer you a contrarion view to your view that the Joplin event is nothing but local.

It made national news that a 300 pound man was sucked out of an upper story hospital room window. Hospital administrators, risk managers and architects will study what went wrong at the hospital for years to make sure their own facilities are not vulnerable.

Joplin seems to be the home town of a lot of significant trucking companies. Supply and demand of shipped goods may be affected over much of the nation because employees of these trucking companies are unable to get to work.

School administrators across the nation are going to want reports on what school officials in Joplin wish they had done differently.

Volunteers are showing up from a large geographical area in pick-up trucks and church buses with chain saws and other tools in hand.

 

[1069_KIFR]

This thread is on the verge of a national tragedy.

 

[Nate Wesley]

A localized event is the Joplin tornado, which didn't really concern anyone outside of the area or their relations.

A local event that commanded national attention because it took so many lives and caused so many injuries at once.

This thread is on the verge of a national tragedy.

We may already be there, as I feel a suicide bomber has successfully detonated a backpack bomb full of semantics.