10.19.2009

The Sense of Being a Human

We sometimes forget about the sense of being a human.

I am writing this while watching information about the funeral of Azhari's mother. Rahma was interviewed about what kind of person her mother was. On the cemetery, Rahma walked surrounding by lots of microphones and cameras.

I may say that the Azharis love media attention. But, did the journalists need to question her in mourning?

Few days ago, I watched a talk show re-run by TVone in the midnight. They talked about the death of Saefudin Jaelani and M. Syahrir. What bothered me most was this particular clip in which TVone's reporter interviewed SJ's sister. (Or was it MS'? I can't remember well.)

What did the faceless reporter ask her? I don't know the exact questions, but based on her answers, the question was likely about how and why SJ (or MS) could involve in terrorism and who persuaded who.

I may understand the importance of this issue in our country. But, could the respective television company remember the sense of being a human? That lady just lost her brother! Her family will be called as the family of a terrorist, and yet her face wasn't blurred at all!

I understand what professionalism should be. But, did that sister have a vital role in solving terrorism issue in our country? If she had, she wouldn't agree to be interviewed by a mass media.

This controversy was once a huge topic back in my college time. Do you still remember the Lion Air's accident in Solo? ANTV had the so-called exclusive footage of that accident since one of their cameramen was involved in it. The cameraman recorded the moment when the flight attendants helped the passengers to get out of the crashed plane.

So, the cameraman preferred holding camera rather than helping the victims? The cameraman could walk around, obviously.

I ask myself a lot regarding this issue. What should I do if I am involved in the similar circumstances?
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Ps.
Another inspiration of this writing is the upcoming Japanese documentary drama about Tomohiko Mitsuyama, a real newsperson who involved in Hanshin-Awaji earthquake disaster in 1995. Mitsuyama was conflicted about pointing the camera at disaster victims and to struggle and worry about his work.

1 comment:

alwaysalia said...

kick andy pernah ngebahas itu (lupa topiknya kecelakaan pesawat atau kode etik liputan pada saat kejadian bencana macam itu). jadi diundanglah si wartawan antv ini, ama satu lagi wartawan yg nyorot kecelakaan garuda yg jatuh d jokja, ingat kan? kl gak salah kedatangan PM australi dan kesimpulannya kecelakaan akibat kelalaian pilot Marwoto.

jadi awalnya si dua wartawan ini disuruh cerita pengalamannya masing-masing, trus dibahas ttg apa yg harusnya dilakukan wartawan; bekerja atau jadi manusia bermoral. ada wartawan senior (lupa namanya, kl gak salah orang antara) yg bilang; "idealnya wartawan ikut membantu, contohnya waktu bom di kedubes australi, banyak penonton malah terharu dengan adegan orang menolong korban"

i don't get it. maksudnya si wartawan nyalain kameranya trus baru nolong, atau nyorot kejadian tolong-menolong itu aja? :o