Along with most people in Australia, I have been watching the terrible news about the fires in VIC. I am starting to get a bit uncomfortable with the coverage being shown. Is it necessary to show pictures of people when they first discover the extent of the damage to their home or that a loved one has died or survived?

I think that the news programs are engaging in a bit of emotional manipulation to increase audiences. What they are doing is pretty cynical IMO - exploiting the grief of the Victorians and the compassion of the viewers to increase audience share.

I have every sympathy with the people, many of whom have lost everything. I have little time for cynical TV hacks.

Couldn't agree more with you. I am interested in the news and the facts, but I am only interested in the personal stories when they are given in the right time & place.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...11/2488481.htm

i agree,
its starting to upset my children now.

my hearts go out to everyone who has been affected.

What did you expect them to do events like this are their bread and butter.

well, if you read that story on the abc website, that should answer your question.

But it will never happen will it, they're the media and like I said it's their bread and butter.

That's sad but true. Glad I'm not in that profession.

Totally agree.

ABC is being fairly responsible in its coverage, the other commercial channels (7, 9 and 10) have right from Sunday morning, been making a (tv) drama out of a crisis. Appalling, exploitative, with no regard whatsoever for the individuals involved. Alas it doesn't surprise me.

Seeing a husband and wife, newly reunited after thinking the other had passed away, with three (yes three) tv crews jostling for position, and quite literally thrusting the camera into the midst of their embrace was the last straw for me.

The last straw for us, the australians included was the continual droaning on and on about aussie matehship, pride, community, people coming together.... one reporter actually said this would ONLY happen in Australia.

Like er 9/11, London Bombings, Tsunami..... people of all races from all over the world did whatever they could after a disaster. To say it would only happen in Aus is a bit of a insult to every other tragedy thats happened. I hated thet human nature, doing a bit to help, was continutally turned into some flag waving rant.

Again totally agree. The statement that 'this' could only happen in Australia, which has been trotted out ad infinitum, is insulting, patronising, jingoistic and shockingly narrow-minded.

Switch the TV off.

That was the solution I came up with. I'm not a massive TV watcher anyway.

As an Aussie I find it embarrassing when they continually say things like that, but I can see the psychology behind those statements, which are designed to instill pride, which in turn makes people want to do more to help.

As for the coverage - yes the commercial stations are milking it for all they can, unfortunately tragedy is a ratings winner, the more shocking the images the better the ratings, but again they serve a purpose, I doubt that the amount of money etc. raised would be as high if those pictures weren't broadcast, tugging at peoples heart strings.

I have.

Similar to the comments on the online newpapers about how "all we Australians" are pulling together. Even my niece asked me if that means those of us who aren't Australian don't care and aren't allowed to help.