A new study of late-evening TV newscasts shows that when local journalists cover emergency or tragedy stories involving motor vehicle accidents, fires, drownings, a fall that caused injuries or some other mishap, they rarely include information that could help prevent future mishaps. Here is more information on the study:
The study
analyzed 2,795 newscasts, 1,748 of which covered a specific incident in
which a person or people were injured by a motor vehicle accident, a
fire, a fall, a drowning, an accidental poisoning or a recreational or
sporting mishap. The vast majority -- 84 percent -- of the stories
involved vehicle crashes or fires.
Only 245 of
the stories featured an interview with public service professionals
such as police officers or firefighters. But such stories were far more
likely to include prevention and risk-reduction information -- nearly
2.5 times more likely for stories about motor vehicle crashes, and more
than 2.75 times more likely for stories about fires.
The study suggests that if police and fire spokespeople on the scene of the incident offered more preventative information, journalists would use it. But the spokespeople have to be on top of safety trends, pending legislation and current safety issues. There is little doubt, the researchers say, that such information would help save lives.
This is a good example of how to go beyond the "what" of the story and tell the more important "so what" of the story.
