Traumatic images on screens are disturbing society!

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.58280

Experts who emphasize that the field of broadcast journalism should include experienced personnel state that professionals working in this field must consider the potential negative effects of repeatedly showing traumatic images on the psychology of society.

Assoc. Prof. Esennur Sirer, pointing out that images of tragic events like fires and plane crashes that are constantly repeated in the media could be seen as media producers pressing the panic button without empathy, said: “Using images of a tragedy for the purpose of ‘more views’ is learned helplessness. The aim of news is to inform, narrate, and help individuals make sense of the situation, not to exploit their emotions.”

 

Assoc. Prof. Esennur Sirer, Head of the Radio, Television, and Cinema Department at Üsküdar University, drew attention to the impact of traumatic images in the media on society and emphasized that these contents must be handled responsibly.

Experienced personnel are important in broadcast journalism!

Assoc. Prof. Esennur Sirer expressed that the continuously repeated broadcast of images following tragic events such as fires or plane crashes could be viewed as media producers pressing the panic button without empathy. “Broadcast journalism should include experienced personnel because, when dealing with visual content, media organizations must consider both public interest and their ethical responsibilities. Professionals working in this field must keep in mind that repetitive traumatic images can have negative effects on the psychology of society. A balance should be maintained in the images shown so that the public’s right to access information is not hindered. For this purpose, general shots of the event site become more important. However, care should be taken when providing detailed images. Close-up shots of injured individuals, especially children, should not be used if possible, and if shown, blurring methods should be applied. Whenever possible, alternative information methods like text, graphics, and simulations should be used. This balance is critical for the media to fulfill its informative role while also being sensitive to societal concerns,” she said.

Disturbing content should not be used unless necessary!

Dr. Sirer, mentioning the need to balance reflecting the truth in news broadcasts with protecting viewers from disturbing images, stated that it is the ethical and professional responsibility of media organizations. "This balance should be achieved with an approach that aims to protect viewers' emotional and psychological health while fulfilling the task of informing the public with consideration for the public good. Disturbing content should not be used unless absolutely necessary, and if used, it should be shown with permission and without unnecessary details. Furthermore, graphic, animation, and simulation visuals should be preferred instead of images with disturbing content that might affect mental health. These types of visuals are available in broadcasters' news archives and can be instantly transmitted digitally,” she said.

Repetition of traumatic content can increase social distress

Assoc. Prof. Esennur Sirer pointed out that the repetition of traumatic content could strengthen the perception of the event’s greater impact and increase societal unrest. She also said: "On the contrary, constant exposure can lead to emotional fatigue and desensitization towards the events. Therefore, media organizations are expected to carry out their informative duties in a balanced way, avoiding fueling societal anxiety. They should act with caution and responsibility when broadcasting such content. Otherwise, societal fear, panic, and security concerns can be triggered."

Recent plane crash footage

Assoc. Prof. Esennur Sirer also expressed that the repeated plane crash images in the media after recent fires and consecutive plane crashes reminded her of scenes from Hollywood films. She said: “Using images of a tragedy for the purpose of ‘more views’ is learned helplessness. This approach is not only disrespectful to the victims who are experiencing the pain of the event but also a repetitive situation aimed at turning the tragedy into a commercial commodity. The purpose of news is to inform, narrate, and help individuals make sense of the situation, not to exploit their emotions. Media organizations should address such events with sensitivity and professionalism, without dramatizing them for ratings, and should not sacrifice human values while informing the public. If individuals feel that their pain is being exploited, they will lose trust in the media. This can lead to the media losing credibility, which is crucial for pluralistic-democratic processes to function, as the media is considered the fourth estate in society.”

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)