Medai Events: What makes them tick?

If you were to ask any average citizen what they think a media event entails, you would most likely get a similar, very general answer. This definition might go along the lines of, an event broadcast in some way or another to inform the public of something that has or is happening. While Daniel Dayan and Elihu Katz illustrate their perception of a media event multiple times in Media events in globalized media cultures, their most solid definition states, “…media events are certain situated, thickened, centering performances of mediated communication that are focused on a specific thematic core, cross different media products, and reach a wide and diverse multiplicity of audiences and participants. [1]” This definition, being carefully worded and especially specific, is still very general concerning the subject matter.

In a growing technological world, the definition of a media event is incessantly changing. Consider the HBO documentary, For Neda (2010) [2]. This documentary is a perfect example of how media events are changing in today’s world, in that, one woman was unjustly murdered and minutes later, the world knew of what happened due to social networking and the internet. This just proves that an event that would have been previously ignored or localized now has the power to spread across nations and inform the world, in a sense, of a contained media event. Technology’s amazing, isn’t it?

Dayan and Katz also give a metaphorical definition to media events, stating they are, “high holidays of mass communication. [1]” This serves the role of separating a media event from occurrences in everyday life. The idea of a media event also ties the topics of globalization and mass communication into one collective package. Both the propagation of globalization in modern times and the ability to mass communicate have led to a broader, evolving definition of media events.

What is my global event of the 21^st century?

Without a doubt, the events of September 11^th, 2001 are one of the most, if not the most globalized media event of the 21^st century. Footage of the planes ripping into the twin towers and ripping out the hearts of millions across the world were aired for weeks after the event, and still haunt many people today. Such a travesty was caught on film by nearby individuals and spread not only to news sources across the globe, but also social networking sites and media outlets, much like in the case of Neda in Iran [2]. This event, and the imagery of its occurrence and aftermath, will stay with most of whom who saw it for the rest of their lives.

[1] Couldry, N., Hepp, A., & Krotz, F. (2010). Media events in globalized media cultures. In Media Events in a Global Age (Pages 2, 12)

[2] For Neda. Dir. Anthony Thomas. HBO, 2010. Documentary.