Alligator Online
By HEATHER RAPP
Tensions ran high Tuesday night at Gainesville's Civic Media Center as representatives from a range of media fields discussed ethics and reporting coverage during Hurricane Katrina.
Lofty feminist bookshelves and anti-war propaganda posters adorned the walls of the center, creating the perfect ambience for these freedom-of-speech specialists to voice their opinions from insiders' positions.
Three of the four media professionals on the panel agreed on the use of the term "refugees" when referring to victims displaced by the hurricane. Opponents to the word have suggested the term carries negative connotations.
"It was a totally appropriate word to use," said Ron Cunningham, editorial page editor of The Gainesville Sun.
Peter Speciale, news director of WCJB-TV20, supported Cunningham's opinion because of the massive impact the storm had on victims' lives.
Harriet Ludwig, a reporter and media activist for more than 60 years, also agreed. She pointed out the frivolity of the issue from victims' point of view.
"How many of them are worried about whether they're called refugees?" Ludwig said, barely loud enough to be heard over the fan attempting to counter-act the lack of air-conditioning.
Michael Leslie fidgeted. He was the only minority represented in the panel.
"The fact that the victims don't care doesn't mean that the media should not be sensitive to the type of language they use," said Leslie, a professor in UF's College of Journalism. He teaches a course entitled Race, Class and Gender in the Media.
Another major concern of many news consumers was the accuracy of reports they received in the aftermath of the hurricane.
In a world of rapidly developing technology, the utilization of instant news has brought both advantages and disadvantages to news reporting, said Joe Courter, the panel's overseer.
Cunningham said he felt audiences got a skewed perspective of the amount of looting that occurred in New Orleans from watching endlessly looping television footage.
"The truth is, there sometimes isn't 24 hours of news," he said. "You get this amplification effect."
Speciale agreed, but pointed out that this is an inherent and unavoidable flaw of televised news vs. printed media.
"People come in and out. They get a little sample, and they move on," he said.
This was one of the lengthiest panels the non-profit reading room has ever hosted, and after zealously debating whether ending the discussion would omit some important issues, audience member and UF instructor Charlie Grapski suggested reconvening next week.