The BBC and flash photography...

The "health warning" is common practise on Broadcast Media on this side of the Atlantic. The News bulletins started it, mainly Channel 4, then RTE, then the BBC.

But it now includes sports programmes and entertainment programmes too, especially if they are reporting on "red carpet celeb functions", etc. Most of this "report contains flash photography" started 2 to 3 years ago and are so common they've almost lost meaning. But anyone who has a family member that is affected by epilepsy it is always useful to hear that "health-warning" no matter how bored the announcer declares it.
 
Since we shifted to courtesy and niceness, does anyone know why news stories on disasters often include a statement that counsellors were being flown/bused in to deal with the survivors. Why is the provision of counseling thought even to be interesting, let alone newsworthy?
 
Well as a journalist, we usually include that sort of info because it answers a relevant question: how are we dealing with this tragedy?

While help like that is certainly implied in a disaster, people still like to hear it. Just like they want to hear us say: police arrested that invididual, firefighters have rescued the survivors, search-and-rescue is looking for others, the dead are being buried, etc. etc.

It might not be newsworthy per se, but it also shows a human element to what otherwise might be a rather dispassionate piece of reporting. We like to be told that it'll be OK, that people are taken care of. As journalists, we usually go for straight facts first, then add a bit of human element.

So in short… it's part of balanced reporting, people want to know, and it shows us a bit of hope in overcoming a tragedy.
 
Richard G said:
Since we shifted to courtesy and niceness, does anyone know why news stories on disasters often include a statement that counsellors were being flown/bused in to deal with the survivors. Why is the provision of counseling thought even to be interesting, let alone newsworthy?
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Everyone watching feels better knowing counseling is being offered. But it turns out that actually accepting the offer of counseling increases your chance of having PTSD. The best "treatment" after a traumatic event is non-professional support from friends and family. Professional help is best a few months later for those not able to psychologically move on. But that isn't news and these days victims feel left out if they aren't offered immediate counseling because they know from tv that that is the "correct" response. :S
 
Professional help is best a few months later for those not able to psychologically move on.
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My daughter, who's a police person, was at the centre of a particularly gruesome incident, a few years ago. Luckily, she possesses a very robust personality, as she compared the counselling offered to a chocolate teapot.

On the other hand, I also know others that have been in traumatic events, who have found the service beneficial. This variation is in line with my personal experience of the wide variation in the quality of practioners.
 
Sejanus.Aelianus said:
My daughter, who's a police person, was at the centre of a particularly gruesome incident, a few years ago. Luckily, she possesses a very robust personality, as she compared the counselling offered to a chocolate teapot.

On the other hand, I also know others that have been in traumatic events, who have found the service beneficial. This variation is in line with my personal experience of the wide variation in the quality of practioners.
Click to expand...

Very sorry to hear about your daughter's experience. The first studies that suggested the lack of benefit from early counseling were done in New Zealand looking at factors in the rate of PTSD in police officers. The largest beneficial factor was whether your immediate colleagues were supportive. Subsequent studies have looked at road accident victims and offered counseling only to some. The worst group on average were those who accepted counseling. The best were those who were offered but refused. Until 2 week's ago I worked alongside a highly experienced trauma psychologist. She will not provide formal counseling within 6 months of the event. A cup of tea (from a chocolate teapot?) is all some people need. Having done training in post-disaster support I can say that the only thing we offered in addition to general niceness was to offer to help the victim work through one problem to solve. No "debriefing." I am glad to hear your friends were not harmed by their counseling.
 
Michael Markey said:
How very droll.
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That's hilarious... good one OM !

jessica_087.jpg
 
Finglas said:
The "health warning" is common practise on Broadcast Media on this side of the Atlantic. The News bulletins started it, mainly Channel 4, then RTE, then the BBC.

But it now includes sports programmes and entertainment programmes too, especially if they are reporting on "red carpet celeb functions", etc. Most of this "report contains flash photography" started 2 to 3 years ago and are so common they've almost lost meaning. But anyone who has a family member that is affected by epilepsy it is always useful to hear that "health-warning" no matter how bored the announcer declares it.
Click to expand...
I was at boarding school during the '80s, and every showing of Top of the Pops became 'lie to the epileptic boy and watch him spasm' time.

Looking back it's amazing to remember just what evil little bar-stewards we could be.
 
Michael Markey said:
Dear George.

I think that`s drool.
Droll is from the French drole I understand.

Michael
Click to expand...

Hi,

In France it's a useful and ambiguous comment. The trouble is, most of my young ladies, who told me it, were 40's war brides so the expression has probably moved on since then. One of the expressions* we used (jargon at work) was/is meaningless to most of my French friends until I worked out that it originated in the 1850's.

Regards, David

* avis d'appel - probably spelt wrongly.
 
After the next horrible, mind-shattering tragedy a reporter asks those in charge. "What is being done to hep the survivors cope with the is atrocious event"?

The official answers, "Studies indicate it is best to offer no formal help whatsoever right now. We encourage the survivors to seek 'non-professional support from friends and family' ".

Good luck with that.
 
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