Los Angeles wildfires reveal an information 'wasteland'

(CLO) The Los Angeles wildfire crisis has exposed the flaws in the media system. Is the media fulfilling its role in providing accurate and complete information to the public in times of crisis?

Lack of official sources

The LA fires are not only a natural disaster but also a “test” for the world’s media system. “The question that keeps coming up in my mind is: Where is the best place to get information?” said Janice Min, CEO of The Ankler.

And the answer is a mishmash of information ranging from dedicated apps like Watch Duty or Genasys to popular information-sharing platforms like Google Docs and Instagram Reels.

This shows the lack of a reliable and accurate source of information during a crisis. Social media has played an important role in sharing information but at the same time has created a chaotic and elusive picture of the real situation.

Wildfire in Los Angeles. Photo: GI

It was surprising to see that major Los Angeles media outlets were largely absent during the wildfires, with people instead turning to smaller local news outlets or unverified information on social media.

"The Los Angeles wildfires have exposed an information 'wasteland' where people have difficulty finding accurate sources of information," Min added.

Responsibilities and difficulties of the press

The Los Angeles wildfires are not only an environmental disaster, but also a lesson in the importance of accurate and timely information. The event shows that even in the digital information age, the public’s demand for traditional news sources has not diminished.

Traditional newsrooms, with their experience and resources, can still play an important role in providing accurate information to the public in times of crisis.

However, gathering quality information requires significant financial resources. California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a possible solution: dedicating a portion of the state budget to support community journalism projects.

Despite the media gaps, journalists on the ground continue to report despite facing a host of challenges, both physical and mental.

During a segment on 'The View,' ABC reporter Matt Gutman reported on the Pacific Palisades fire. Surprisingly, he accidentally revealed that the house that burned down was his aunt's house.

Back in the studio, grief was evident on his face. Likewise, NBC's Jacob Soboroff shared an emotional moment as he stood in front of his destroyed childhood home. He called his mother and shared his raw emotions about the loss.

Skalij, a photographer for the LA Times, shared his terrifying experiences working at the scene of a wildfire.

"One time, I was working on the Pacific Coast Highway and everything went black in the suffocating black smoke," he describes. "I sat there for about ten, fifteen seconds, just sitting there in my black suit, and I was scared, because I didn't know if there was a fire coming or if something was going to fall."

Skalij's account shows the dangers journalists face to bring us true images of disasters.

Hoang Anh (according to CIR, LA Times, Rolling Stone)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tham-hoa-chay-rung-los-angeles-lam-lo-ra-mot-vung-dat-hoang-thong-tin-post330562.html