A media event is defined as “a celebration of a coherent set of values, beliefs, and symbols through the formation of a special public around the media event” (Couldry and Hepp 4). A media event is something more than just an event that occurs in people’s everyday lives, though this is a common misunderstanding. A media event would be something significant that has happened in the world, which has affected a large group of people. I am having a hard time figuring out what my media event is of the 21st century. I feel as though there have been a number of important media events that have happened in this century. It would have to be between Barack Obama getting elected into office and the tragedy of September 11.
To start, Barack Obama’s election, this was a very big event to many of people. As Couldry and Hepp would say, many people were excited to see Barack Obama go into office and it was “Anticipated and looked forward to, much like a holiday” (Couldry and Hepp 2). I, just like many people in the United States was excited to see whether or not Barack Obama would be elected into office. This election was one of the most exciting and interesting elections as of yet for me. It was the first one that I was able to vote in, and also it was a milestone. This election was broadcasted all over the world, and it was an accomplishment for most of the human race. It was one of the most broadcasted and watched newscasts in that election year. This would be considered a media event because of the level of broadcasting and significance it had to a large portion of people. It was a celebration for many people in the United States, and people everywhere because of the fact that Barack Obama was the first African American to be elected to presidency. His election was such a great media event because there were such a large amount of people that was following this story and the election. It was not just the United States that was involved with this election; it was something that caught the entire world’s attention. It was a great event in history. I will never forget the election or the inauguration, just like most people in the world.
The next big media event for me and probably the most recognized media event would be the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. I will never forget where I was or what I was doing when I found out the news that there was a terrorist attack. I was in my seventh grade English class of the time our principal came on the loud speaker to announce that something terrible had just happened in the state of New York. We were just about to switch classes and go to religion class, and as we walked into our religion class the television was on in the front of the room. As we walked in we saw the replay of the first plane hitting, but as we were watching we also saw the second plane hit the trade center. I will never forget the way I felt when I saw those planes hit those towers, it was surreal in a way to see someone do something so terrible to so many innocent people. I was praying that no one I knew was in those towers, and I was also praying that something would help those people get out of there safe, and alive. As soon as I got home from school I turned on the television and did not move until I went to bed that night. I could not stop watching the news, because I wanted to figure out why someone would do something like this. I was not the only person that was watching this, there were billions of people all over the world that were watching the same thing I was, with probably the same feeling I had when I watched it, a heart ache. This tore the American people and also all other people from around the world apart, this was something that brought the entire world together. The world came together to try to support the American people, and do what they could to try to help those that were hurting.
Though Barack Obama’s election to the White House was a media event, the attacks on September 11th 2001 were the media event of the century to me. That event in history brought many people together from all over the world and that is what a media event is. A media event is something that affects people on a global scale and though usually is heartbreaking it isn’t always. It can be something joyous and something that is celebrated like Barack Obama’s election. There have been many media events in the 21st century but those are the two that really had an effect on me.
Couldry, Nick, Hepp, Andreas, and Krotz, Friedrich. Media Events in a Global Age. London, New York: Routledge, 2009. Print.
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Lindsey, I feel as though 9/11 is definitely the largest media event as well. But you covered another point that I didn't think of. From a NY standpoint, it is interesting to see that you had the same reaction upon seeing what happened as any seventh grader living in the metropolitan area of NY(I am from Westchester County). The instant thought of "I hope I don't know anyone in those buildings," is a thought that could effect people from downtown Manhattan, all the way across the world to Japan. That point I feel also supports this case.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that 9/11 is definitely one of the largest media events that has happened during our lifetimes. I was in 6th grade on that awful day and though I was hours away from the city, I still hoped that I did not know anyone affected by this tragedy.
ReplyDeleteYou state that Obama being elected was another media event, but that it was not as significant. I agree with this because I believe while many people were happy, there were also many Americans who were very unhappy with this result. This contrast led to his election not necessarily being the best remembered, possibly due to the fact that 9/11 was more commonly agreed upon as a tragedy throughout the US and helping people bond through their sadness and fear.
I was in Wisconsin, and the chances of me knowing someone in those buildings was very slim, but the thought still crossed my mind if any one I knew was flying or was there on business. My heart was just in constant ache for all of those who did lose someone in those buildings, and though there are many things in NYC that are tourists spots now most people want to go see where the trade centers stood whereas before they were rarely noticed by tourists as a hot tourist spot. Many people are still affected by what happened and that is why I believe that this was the biggest media event.
ReplyDeleteI was also in 6th grade when the attacks on the World Trade Center happened. I remember being so shocked I didn't believe the facts at first and for a few days the only thing I remember about that day was CNN being on all day in the house.
ReplyDeleteI also hoped that I didn't know anyone in the buildings, which seems to be a rather human reaction. I feel terrible when they read the names of the victims every 9/11 even though I don't know who they were.
Just remembered a little bit of information from the recent news--the shooting in which Gabrielle Giffords was involved in, the young girl who was shot to death was born on 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with all the previous comments about the reaction of shock and sympathy. I was glued CNN too after the news broke and although I was many miles away from Manhattan,the heart ache you all speak of resonated with me too.
ReplyDelete@Kayla fp: I think your analysis is in sync with the concept of "conflictual media events" as explained in the readings. Like the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church or Dolly the cloned sheep- People around the world have mixed reactions to such media events but I don't think that makes them any less significant as media events.