Did we show too much?
I'm back in Beijing with a bit of time to think back on the earthquake and the way I covered it.
A couple of questions have been going through my mind: Did I show too much/too little? Did I intrude too far into people's grief?
Firstly, it's important to say that we didn't show you on TV the worst of what we saw as we went through Beichuan and other destroyed towns.
I'm not even sure I should share with you now the extent of what we all saw - so I won't.
On TV, we tried to show you the death we came across without horrifying you - and without taking away the dignity of those who died. We tried to show dead bodies only when they were covered under blankets.
There was one exception - we spent a long time considering it. In the town of Hanwang a middle school had collapsed, trapping and killing hundreds of pupils.
Our cameraman filmed a close-up shot of the hand of a girl who had died. The girl was still holding her pen. We thought this made an important editorial point - she and her classmates were killed in the middle of their class. They simply had no time to react to the earthquake.
We decided that this single shot was too graphic to show on the early evening news in the UK when children might be watching - so we left it out.
But we included it in the middle of a piece we filed for the late news - together with a warning. Looking back now, I think this was the right decision.
Moving on - did we intrude too far into people's grief ? I don't think so, and I hope not. We took great care to respect people's feelings as we filmed them - a lot of our shots were taken from a discreet distance, and we never forced our cameras into people's faces.
Equally, we found that many victims wanted to tell us their stories (For five years I covered the aftermath of bombings and shootings in the Middle East and I often found that people needed - and were sometimes desperate for - their stories to be told.)
I hope that we managed to respect people's grief, whilst also conveying the scale of the suffering they were going through. You can't cover an earthquake properly unless you show the effect it has on people's lives.
You may be interested to know that the images we've chosen to show from the earthquake have been less graphic than those broadcast by Chinese state TV.
We're aware that our pictures are being broadcast across the world at different times of day and night - so we want to make sure that they're always as suitable as they can be for those watching.
What do you think?
I’m 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~44~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
It is never enough to show our grief in such a great tragedy on such a scale.
Humans are one! And we shall never forget what our fellow human beings have gone through.
Complain about this comment
To your point, I completely agree with you on this issue, that graphical images may have a deep impact on those who do not yet have the capacity of absorbing the disturbance, e.g., the kids.
But also, I agree with you that the truth has to be told, and those victims deserved to be heard, even they were muted by their lives taken by the quake.
Only when the rest of the world truly realises what has happened, can they realise how important and desperate their sympathy and help mean to those caught in the disaster.
So I think though painful and disturbing, the truth needs to be told!
I suggest similar to the film classification system, we should have a classification system for the news reports, so that the right audiences can see the right things.
Thanks James for the good work and honesty. This earth quake has brought you ever closer to our hearts.
Complain about this comment
I totally agree with you about this. Even a lot of relief worker will get some psychological problems after this earthquake, let alone the normal people if they see the real picture in disater area, especially for the kids.
But I still feel that James acted "tough" in his reports. I could not see any sympathy from him. It was not just my feeling alone, maybe a lot of other audiences have the same feeling espcially compared with other reports from CNN, NPR, etc.
Maybe he was annoyed with the criticism about his distort reports from Chinese people?Who knows....
Complain about this comment
Who is to know how much reporting is adequate for everyone in this world. What is important here I feel, is that you are there to let people of the world know what is going on through your eyes, and I have a lot of respect for you for being highly considerate and careful in doing so.
Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts on your own coverage.
This horrible tragety has been affecting my life and I am looking for ways to help those in need besides just donating money.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hi James,
I appreciate the faithful presentation of your report. I grief with the people in China who have suffered from the quake. It is very emotional when I read the story about the brother and sister who lost their parents.
As long as your report stand for the truth and fairness and away from bias, I think the grief is necessary. It is our human nature to show sympathy and support to those who suffer.
Well done to the Chinese government to show such leadership in the rescue and recovery work.
Complain about this comment
I criticized your report of the Olympic relay heavily. For that I still think you fully deserved. But I'd like to show my great respect for your consideration of your news coverage of the earthquake. Well done mate, keep it up.
Complain about this comment
From an ordinary Chinese student's point of view, I think this time you and your colleagues have done a great job. The images and pictures may not speak out how sadly the situation is and, meanwhile, your team may need to respect your audiences' feelings, but I must say that you guys/ladies have done a great job.
There are also some improvements you all have made this time. As we noticed, those parents who have lost their children and those people who have lost their everything they were angry and expressed loads of emotional feelings. It is true that there maybe some problems the Chinese authorities should sort out later, however the Chinese government has offered what all they can to rescue survivors and relocate immigrants. Your team did realize it and represent us an rational report rather than using these sad voices as a cordial to demonize China. It's a good sign.
On the other hand, you all may also realize the Chinese government and ordinary Chinese people they are actually unified together. The government may have some bad polices and may make some mistakes, meanwhile, ordinary Chinese people may have complains and may have some arguments, however, Chinese people do need their government and the government must protect their peoples' interests. As a result, if you try to against Chinese government, the Chinese people definitely won't like you.
I think this time your team has proved a good way of reporting China by balanced coverage with constructive criticizes. A modern China who respect western value and have the willingness to cooperate with other powers is what western countries needed, on the other hand, is also what Chinese people wanted.
Bravo, you all!
Complain about this comment
There are just so much one becoming numb after certain time. The images and the number of death revealing that human being, no matter how creative how ambitious we are, we are still powerless against mother nature. It will happen again somewhere sometime. When massive death this kind happen it become a statistic. Sad is that we can't do much about strong earthquake and other natural disasters as well. As to the many died, well they can't feel anymore. But they are the ones should be the sadest.
Complain about this comment
Hi James, I thought your blog was deep felt and sincere. Because of that, I made a point to read all that you wrote. When it wasn't conveniently placed on the front of the BBC web page (how I found it in the first place), I went in search of it.
Complain about this comment
i think as a society today we are wrapped up in our own business, i feel that the earthquake truly was and awful destruction to the population, but maybe the human race would of helped if we did see more gruesome pictures, i know the bbc would of gotten complaints but maybe it would of been the best thing to do. I also feel that the reporters did a great job not pointing fingers who to blame and they kept them selves composed as well as mannered. i just hope that we could help some more
Complain about this comment
I think you're missing the point James, it's not what you showed in your images that is the problem (IMO) I think that you tend to over dramatise your report by the the intonation of yuor words and sentences and the heavy way you read your scripts, making sure the timing of your pauses and sighs are used to the most shocking and devastating effect.
I have noticed that you used to do this also when you were reporting from the ME, and while I am sure you are an excellent reporter, I think you should try to cut out the added dramatazation of a situation that is already full of tragedy. Moreover the viewer is intelligent enough to draw his/her own conclusions, thank you.
You are other colleague Orla Guerin had a simila "skill" of tranforming tragic news reports into "good television" by adding her own unecessary drama.
Take a leaf from other reporters that are there to simply pass on the news without feeling the need to become the Director of a real life drama. Caroline Wyatt is an excellent example of how reports should be delivered.
Complain about this comment
The day after the Asian tsunami, one of the broadsheets printed a picture of a girl's hand emerging from the debris of a resort in Thailand where I had stayed with my girlfriend, who was still in the country. In the confused reporting in the first hours after the disaster, that picture made the terrible danger of the events clear to me. I got on a plane to Thailand to look for my girlfriend, who was now missing. We found her body a week later. I can still see that picture clearly in my mind. As heartbreaking as it is, I think it was right to print it. Everyone should be allowed to tell their story, however shocking; it is part of coming to terms with what has happened. My thoughts go out to those who have suffered in the earthquake.
Complain about this comment
Dear Mr Reynolds,
I must take this opportunity to thank you for your genuine sharing. I have enjoyed it very much and have full respect for your professionalism.
In relation the blog "Did we show too much?", I take the view that the level of disclosure in your blog has been just right. Showing too much is not necessary a positive approach. Furthermore, there is no black and white answer to this. Your professionalism is what matters.
Thank you again.
Yours sincerely
Vegieroot
Complain about this comment
The most crucial rule for us, whatever people suffering the disaster or audience caring about the earthquake or rescue team members helping people there or reporter covering the new and stories is facing the reality and truth. i am glad to see that your professional work and effort trying presenting the truth to us, but I prefer taking film than making interviews the victims, I saw a lot of reporters desperate talking to the survivors (children and adults) to pry into every possible details that makes his or her interviews looks like more fruitful and specila despite those people's feeling or his interview may interrupt the rescue work. those immoral behaviors really make me sick.
Complain about this comment
I want to thank Mr. James Reynolds, for his hard working and good heart.
I just started watching/reading BBC recently, and thanks for the coverage and great reports. The images are vivid and thoughtful.
Complain about this comment
I'm a citizen in Beijing. Thank you,James, for all the efforts doing for the suffering people from the hit areas. you have done a good job in your coverage, however, I think that you have conbine too little Chinese components with your coverage. The devastating earthquake happened in China shows no difference with other disasters you have ever covered except for the different figure,location and time. The point is if the western media always cover events with their familiar attitudes and angles, their coverage would be alway the same, and in fact the world has so much diversification. Try to underestand true thoughts of common Chinese people and their culture whether they appear in your shoot or not, then you will do better.
Complain about this comment
Hi James,
I am working for one of the aid agencies involved in the Sichuan earthquake relief.
A Chinese journalist asked me: "WHAT DO YOU THINK of those journalists who interview the victims stuck in the ruins?". A difficult question to answer, because it depends. Some victims may be too embarrassed, too desperate to speak and they don't want to have their hours of suferring all over the news. Others would love to talk; it helps them to overcome their trauma.
We also had some camera crews in our clinics. The patients, although often seriously wounded, wanted to be filmed, because most of them hoped that family members would see them on TV. It was for them a way of reaching out and telling the world : "Hey, I am still alive!".
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I do think that showing the true extent of the damage from the earthquake, such as dying people with all the gory details, would not be well-received by the general public at all. I don't think it would serve any beneficial purpose, as people seem to be more compelled to help after hearing the emotional stories like abandoned orphaned children, which can be portrayed through images that do not require censoring, as opposed to images of corpses. It's true that Chinese media show more graphic images and it seems the Chinese public generally have a greater stomach for things like this compared to some other countries.
I can only imagine the struggles in reporting on a disaster like this; actually being at the place must be so overwhelming and to condense everything into a short article so that the public can get a tiny glimpse of what is going on must be so difficult. Just deciding how sympathetic one should be, what to write that would move people to help most, what people should and shouldn't know about must involve so much conflict.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Since you ask what do I (any readers) think, here is my views.
I think your report is about right as your consideration is the kind and range of viewers. Kids or housewives, bankers or weapon dealers...
But if you want to make an impact, then No, you have not shown enough.
A journalist from a respectable media is a wealthy man, you are wealthy in that you may not have a lot of money, but you sure have some influence.
Your reporting angle directs the audiences' attention.
You want to report the terrible thing God has done, easy. You want to show the good work God has done through the these' infidels selflessness resuce, easy, you have met a lot , I bet.
You wan to cover stories of how the Han Chinese saved lifes of the minority of Tibetan, Miaos, Toka .. people, easy, but most jounralist won't know or won't bother.
The picture of a death puipl holding a pen and the disaster school resuming their classes in rescue tent will have some impact to the kids in affluent western world, who would have taken schooling as automatic, and that life can stop any minutes.
You want to show bad side of human nature, you have seen more than I do.
You want to show hope, there is hope.
I am sure your professional training and personal life task will direct your good work.
In most time, BBC has been doing that.
Only that the subtle British or English way is sometimes too subtle.
Complain about this comment
I didn’t think your reports were too graphic or intrusive. I felt the subject was handled in a respectful manner, and I was moved to tears a number of times.
When disasters like this happen the public get bombarded with facts and figures, about how many people have lost their lives, and how many people have been made homeless. This can make you think “How awful”, but it doesn’t make you feel anything because you can’t comprehend the scale of destruction. It is only when we see this destruction through reports like yours that we connect.
When you see images of parents waiting for news of their only child, their faces a mixture of shock and grief it moves you in a way no written report could. You can’t imagine the pain they are going through. We are all human, and no matter where we live in the world we all have the same basic emotions.
These reports must always be respectful to the dead and the grieving. However the situation must never be underplayed, because that is just as insulting to those caught up in this disaster.
It is a tough balancing act, but one that you and your team did expertly.
Complain about this comment
I personally agree that we need to show and to see grief and the extent of damages etc. However, we rarely get follow-up news and I do believe that the human interest factor, which translates into, e.g. donations and any other support, would be greater and possibly longer lasting and thus more effective.
Incidentally, during the week of most intense reporting (incl. Burma) I was working with a Nigerian on visit to Europe and he was totally surprised that our media was dedicating so much time and space to something that happenes so far away and really has no impact on our lives. He simply could not understand we would spend time watching, reading or talking about an earthquake in China, on the other side of the globe, that has happened and cannot be undone.
Complain about this comment
Generally I think it is best to err on the side of caution - frequent exposure to graphic images both of war and natural disaster leads to a form of compassion fatigue, and the power to shock people into action to help is lost.
That said I do feel rather embarrassed that as people we are often more likely to react to the images of those pandas who had to be moved out of harms way, than those of people who have lost their homes.
I agree with the previous poster that stories from and interviews with the living provide a better understanding than the more graphic images of death and destruction - although that carries with it a risk that we will pay less attention than we did for the Asian Tsunami.
Complain about this comment
Reporting on such a huge disaster it is impossible not to offend the sensitivities of some viewers/readers. What is required is for the reporter to search his/her own conscience and to be true to their own convictions. To my mind the reports filed by James struck the right balance. It is worth remembering also that a TV report is also a form of acting. The reporter, when images are thought too graphic to show, must use his presentation skills to convey the true gravitas of the subject. I strongly disagree with the contributor who suggested James' reports have been overly dramatic. The earthquake was an awful event on a scale it's hard to take in. Being there and experiencing the death and destruction first hand must be hugely traumatic. I respect the work of James and his colleagues, and believe they have shown good judgement and respect for the people of China. Well done.
Complain about this comment
Tragedies need to be reported to awaken our sympathy and propel us to action, but not to blunt it. In so doing, it prepares us in dealing with tragedies of our own.
I feel that your reporting of China's earthquake has done that. So well done.
Complain about this comment
Hi James,
Please excuse my bluntness in the following, but I feel this news is so important for Chinese people especially to know and understand.
The following Epoch Times report is very relevant to this topic. The Chinese Communist regime knew of the coming earthquake and DID NOT warn the people before. The CCP does not love Chinese people, only their own power.
"Chinese Interim Government Seeks Justice for Earthquake Victims
Since the Sichuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, much evidence has surfaced showing that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) decision to conceal its foreknowledge of the impending quake from the general public caused a great number of otherwise avoidable casualties.
In light of this evidence, the Chinese Interim Government is calling for the people responsible for concealing this quake warning to be named and, when possible, brought to justice.
Before the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, after general discussion, the Committee of Natural Hazard Prediction in the Institute of Geophysical Society made an earthquake forecast report to the Central Earthquake Bureau. One earthquake expert, Mr. Geng Guoqing, even clearly delineated the specific location and time of the quake and sent a letter to Premier Wen Jiabao warning that the quake was imminent.
An expert from the National Earthquake Bureau risked his life to reveal that the Bureau's technical panel a made very accurate prediction before the earthquake and reported to the State Council requesting that it issue an earthquake warning.
But the CCP leadership refused to make any announcement for the political reasons, including the coming Beijing Olympics, social stability, etc. Because of their inaction the most severe natural disaster in the 60 years of the CCP's rule occurred without forewarning; the extent of its severity far exceeded the Tangshan earthquake of 1976.
the latest figures show that half a million people have been negatively impacted by the quake. According to incomplete statistics, the death toll has exceeded 50,000; many of these are children from one-child families. These families will thus never be able to raise children. (CCP policy permits each family only a single child.)
Additionally, though the CCP leaders banned the announcement of the earthquake prediction to the general public, one week before the earthquake, the CCP notified its military, nuclear bases, nuclear arsenal, the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP,) and CCP officials in the earthquake regions.
That the CCP applied different earthquake prevention policies to different classes shows its contempt for the lives of the Chinese people.
That the CCP authority applied different earthquake prevention policies to different people in the same earthquake area is a violation of human rights, a serious infringement of the human rights of the population in the earthquake region, and shows contempt for the lives of Chinese people.
For this, the Chinese Interim Government specifically calls on the Chinese public to report those who are responsible for the concealment of the earthquake forecast.
At the same time, the Chinese Interim Government will set up reporting channel to collect evidence, and report the case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the International Court of Justice.
After the collapse of the CCP regime, the future Chinese government will pursue the investigation of the responsible parties and bring them to justice. "
Complain about this comment
Reality is one thing and hype another.
The "Family of Man" Exhibit of 65 years ago set a standard for photo journalism.
I have been impressed by how the "cause of the week" lemmings concerning Tibet have been silenced by the realities of the earthquake.
Never be ashamed of reality!
Complain about this comment
James, I can appreciate that it's a tricky balancing act between showing the effects of a tragedy like this, and - well, what some might call "grief porn", that tendency to indulge mawkishly in other people's grief (a tabloid approach that's increasingly being adopted by the BBC's competitors). Personally I'd say you handled this just right, which to me is no surprise since I consider you one of the better news correspondents currently working for the BBC.
Complain about this comment
James you rock.
Thank you for bringing the news alike and let me, a Chinese now in the US, know what is happening in my country.
I dont want to say much, just want to thank you.
And of course, always keep what you learnt during the BBC reporting safety training, in order to keep yourself and your collegues safe.
All the best.
Complain about this comment
Thank you for your reports from Beichuan. I am in Beijing and I understand the scenes there in sichuan chould be very dreadful. on our national TV I see no shocking pictures and I think they must have considered people's feeling.
I hope you could send more messages to the world. after all, most of the reporters from the west are sitting in Beijing or Shanghai editting second-hand reports.
my great respect to your courage
Complain about this comment
Dear James
The work which you and your colleagues have been doing in the quake zone are clearly deserving of gratitude and commendation. As to the parameters of the visual content, your sensitivity to an extremely sad and difficult situation is definitely not misplaced. Whilst local Chinese television may show more graphic pictures, one must be cognizant of the possibility that there may be different motivations. Keep up the good work.
Complain about this comment
I came from Chengdu, where is not far from the quake-hit. I agreed that you made the right decision about choosing the photos to show. The dead girl's hand with a pen had been shown on many chinese webpages. Everyone could not help feeling sad when they saw those kinds of pictures. The truth is that too many school children were killed. What's more, it was also widely noticed that most of the completely collapsed building were the schools - primary school, high school, even kindergarden. My friends and I (and I believe many other chinese as well)become more concerned on the quality of construction of those collapsed schools. On the sceen we learned from the news media, it could easily be found that, those school in tragedy were all collapsed into small pieces, Obviously the steel, the cement and many other relevant issues had terrible problem. Yesterday, in Hanwang town of Mianzhu city, 127 pupils' parents went to the Deyang city council for complaining the quality of the construction which had caused their greatest loss (dead children) in their life. And also, in Dujiangyan, the students' parents were all extremely angry and deadly eager to find out the constructor of those dangerous school buildings. So the construction quality should also been focused.
Complain about this comment
Should let more people know how much grief those mothers who have lost their only child are suffering and do something for them. There's a poem written by an unknown author which moves millions of Chinese to tears and spreads rapidly in China. I try to translate it into English to make more people outside of China know it.
Child, Quickly Hold Tight Mum's Hand
Child,
Quickly hold tight Mum's hand,
For it's too dark
On the Heaven's road.
Mum is anxious for
Your head being hit.
Quickly hold tight Mum's hand,
With you let Mum go.
Mum,
I fear I can't see your hand,
For it's too dark
On the Heaven's road.
The sunshine was taken away by
The collapsed wall.
No longer I can see
Your tender eyeballs.
Child,
Go alone.
On the road ahead,
No worries any more,
No endless schoolwork any more,
And,
No Dad's fists any more.
You've to bear in mind
I and Dad's look.
In the next life,
Together let's go.
Mum,
Don't be anxious.
With many classmates and friends I go,
Though a little crowded on the Heaven's road.
We say
Don't cry.
No matter whose Mum she is,
Our Mum she is;
No matter whose child he is ,
Mum's child he is.
To the living children,
Please render you love
In the days after I go.
Mum,
Don't cry.
Tears can't lighten
Our road.
Let ourselves
Slowly go.
Mum,
I will bear in mind
The look of you and Dad
And
Our word:
In the next life,
Together let's go .
Complain about this comment
intersting remarks from KatyMantyk.
In fact, the disaster is not at all an earthquake. just like 911 was manipulated by the US government, it was a test of the nuclear weapon, and killing 80,000 people is to ease the pressure of growing population in China, for in Beichuan and Wenchuan, where the Tibetans and Qiang people live, one-child policy does not apply and most family have two or three children.
Complain about this comment
I am in daily Sykpe contact with a Chinese teacher of one of the few schools left standing in Chengdu China. She has described to me in pictures and text her excruciating experiences during 5 and 6 magnitude earthquakes. 6,000 students shelter in her six story school building (which has huge cracks in most walls) every day during heavy rain and night time. A large number of her students have lost their parents due to their home being outside the city. She tells me when after the 8.0 earthquake struck on 12 May they were told to expect tremors for the next 2 months. Every day since they have had 1,000 tremors each day. Many times these tremors have developed into a 5, 6 or 7 magnitude earthquake. Outside of the school most of the 10 million population of Chengdu sleep in tents or in most cases outside under an umbrella. Because this city is NOT classed a disaster area (in other words the city has not been totally flattened) they have to pay for tents, also chairs are £1 per night to sleep on. Very little food is available and the temperature is in the 30C's.
When you see an appeal for China Earthquake, please give generously. Many thanks.
Complain about this comment
I wish you can show more. Cause the feeling I got from the forum / radio and news, is that the people do not know the extend of the grieve.
If they understand the amount of grieve, then they will not be saying things like karma, panda etc.
It may be traumatic for some, but this is real. The people need some real deal to jolt their thinking process to care more for fellow humans.
Complain about this comment
My hope for a good report is to bring personal stories and through each individual story, we get a glimpse the soul deep sorrow they are feeling. Attaching a person to a number is so much more powerful, more powerful yet if the reporter brought his own heart and compassion into the story. James, I actually detected a change through your blogs. First several blogs about the earthquake, I got the odd notion that you were narrating and detached. But I started to see your compassion starting with the blog about a father lost his son, the most touching one to me is the one about a couple orphans. So how about writing a blog, sharing your own emotions throughout the earthquake? What better way to share the devastation with the world by telling us what effect it had on a foreign reporter?
Complain about this comment
Being a jounalist myself, I can fully understand the point you are making. It's tough for a media person under such circumstances. It's really a tight rope walk. I feel BBC did a good job. You are keeping up the coverge, now focussing on the dangers the 34 freshly formed lakes are posing to the survivers of the quake.
Complain about this comment
To KatyMantyk:
The Epoch Times report that you posted makes me laugh.
Earthquake is an unpredictable natural disaster to any country in the world. Even in Japan, who suffer earthquake more often than the rest of world can't find ways to predict despite the millions of dollors spent on earthquake study each year. Now the U.S has satellite to forcast the weather but can it forcast when and where the cyclone will strick?
We are grown-up, don't be fooled and used! Your comment is NEGATIVE, but it doesn't mean it is TRUE! Wake up!
To James,
I am glad you ask the "Did we show too much" question, that means you appreciate opinions from readers. So far for the earthquake I think you are doing well. I will, actually more and more Chinese SHOULD be your readers, so that rest of the world can hear the voices from China, the real China, so that the rumors spreaded by people like KatyMantyk will be killed immediately.
BR//Christine
Complain about this comment
The BBC and you as the representative : show all of the correct and portray an accurated picture of the story.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
View these comments in RSS