PressEthic

Days after the Bali bombings that killed or injured almost 150 people and with more terrorism feared from Jemaah Islamiyah, the police chief, Maj. Gen. Mande Manku Pastika, appeared before reporters with photos of the severed heads of the bombers asking for the public's help.

With so few images of the dead shown in American media, it’s jarring to see those projected on the CNN website. During Hurricane Katrina, the media avoided showing bodies in the floodwaters. However, the image that was replayed of the victim covered in the wheelchair became a testament to the government’s inept response. It’s powerful and true and speaks volumes without overwhelming.

Over the summer, I took an NYU course in London that was conducted by a news director from the BBC. He showed us a film that is used within the organization to discuss where journalists should draw the line for disturbing footage. Many in the class (myself included) criticized the American tendency to shy away from the portrayal of death or blood in the media, especially in cases where it’s almost unavoidable. To many, the absence gives an inaccurate picture of what’s going on. In a room full of journalism students, this may not be surprising, but it would be interesting to see if the larger public would feel the same if it were posed in an experiment.

It’s also striking how open the Indonesian police are about their investigation. We’ve had unending questions about the government and its intelligence since 9/11. In the case of Abu Ghraib, we’ve just gotten a ruling this past week about further disclosure of photos.

Maj. Gen. Pastika appeared before the world with gruesome evidence, appealing for help in their fight against terrorism. Not just to be vigilant and keep a suspicious eye on your neighbor, but presenting the situation and asking for citizen participation. It’s the picture of how the media can be effectively used by officials.