Katrina: Could Change Viewers’ Perceptions Of The Press?

The early images of reporters being blown away by Katrina “have been replaced by ominous ones — images of reporters on the dangerous front lines of a complete breakdown of civilized society. Great work by real reporters — brave reporters — bringing back simple news about the living and the dead,” the L.A. Times says.

“There are elements to the story that, if handled well, can help improve the way the public perceives the press,” says Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism in Washington. “The other thing is that the press is doing a bunch of things that are new. They are reading e-mails, saying, ‘I am looking for my nephew … so-and-so, if you can hear me, please call.’ That’s community journalism on a national scale and I think that will go a long way to demonstrate that the press is doing more than just thrill seeking.”