Why are the 5 millionaires on the edge of the Titanic worth more than 700 refugees?

2023-06-24 13:59:00, Opinione Lutfi Dervishi

Why are the 5 millionaires on the edge of the Titanic worth more than 700

The revolting question "WHY?" there is no easy answer when it is seen that the media pays more attention to the drowning of 5 people curious to see the remains of the Titanic ship up close, than to the drowning of 700 refugees on the shores of Greece who were looking for a better life in Europe.

Former US President Obama joined the chorus of revolt that is buzzing on social networks, criticizing the "hypocrisy of the Western media"

The contrast between 5 people who paid 250,000 dollars each to quench curiosity about the wreck of the Titanic submerged 3,800 meters deep in the Atlantic Ocean and 700 immigrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, makes the comments and reactions even more cynical.

This is the classic case where the decision of which event takes precedence not only raises questions but also leads to public protests.

The collision of "two adventures" is the occasion to explain how the media works. (Traditional media and not social media)

1. The news

Undoubtedly, as is well known, not every event that happens constitutes news. There are a number of elements that make an event more compelling, relevant and interesting to the audience.

In the case of the submarine incident related to the Titanic wreck, the unique and historical nature of the event may have been factors in the editors thinking the public would be interested. Events like the sinking of the Titanic happen once in 100 years, just as news where a team of millionaires die out of curiosity to see the wreckage of the ship at the bottom of the ocean only happens once.

The story of 5 millionaires who become famous also because of an unusual adventure, is in front of another adventure caused not by fun but by the drama of immigration.

Why are the 5 millionaires on the edge of the Titanic worth more than 700

However, for the international audience, the scenario where hundreds of refugees from war-torn countries lose their lives in search of a better life in the West is categorized as a "routine" event. Such would be the case even if, near the wreck of the Titanic, such incidents were common.

The special criteria that turn an event into news are: The unusual, the drama and the public figure.

"The death of one person is a tragedy, the death of 10,000 people is a statistic," Stalin said cynically.

Has society become immune to the deaths of ordinary people? This is another debate that naturally needs a series of historical, political, media or psychological actors who can guide it.

2. Public interest and commitment

The Titanic occupies an important place in popular culture, and the mission to see its remains may have awakened curiosity and created a sense of fascination in people.

A dramatic event that keeps curiosity alive for several days is one of those cases that editors don't let go. Here it is enough to remember the story of Ajlan, the little boy found dead on the Turkish coast who became a symbol of the Syrian clandestine drama where the media kept his story in focus for a long time. He was even criticized for crossing every ethical limit to cover the event from every angle.

3. Access to information

If one incident has more information available than another, it may influence it to take priority In the case of the refugee drowning, obtaining accurate and detailed information was challenging, leading to limited and sporadic coverage. However, the media game to illustrate the event with stories originating from the past, connections between different historical moments or semi-conspiracies, made it even more intriguing to station people in front of these developments.

4. Time and competition

Media is a dynamic industry with fierce competition. Breaking news and real-time events often take precedence. Reporting "DIRECT" by adding the word "FROM THE LOCATION" is very tempting. The submarine drama related to the remains of the Titanic appeared as a big, special and interesting news in a time poor in big events.

There is always a misunderstanding between public interest events and public interest events. And this also applies to the professional media without talking here about the new media and the media of social networks where the immersion in water of a "public" character can generate more likes and comments than the explosion of the submarine where 5 millionaires lost their lives.

Simply put, it wasn't the money they had above ground that made the event interesting, but the story they left under the ocean.