Our media still lags behind when it comes to countering rumors and the resulting damage, especially in times of crisis. The media seems unable to catch up with the rapid developments and increased threats and insists on using the same old words and phrases.
The same language is repeated over and over while our media seems untouched by the transformation that the international media continues to undergo at both the professional and technical levels. The language our media uses is so ineffective that the warnings published against heeding rumors means that the public no longer feels motivated to do what is required of them in the circumstances.
As soon as a crisis or a threat of war appears on the horizon, we start reading articles and listening to speeches full of the old stereotypical expressions copied from the same dictionary. Expressions like “those sinister pens”, “inciters of dissent and hate”, “vitriolic remarks” and “people with sick minds”, dominate the text. It is as if such descriptions were written on the faces of all those accused of spreading rumors. Such naive remarks only lead to confusion and uncertainty among the public.
Developing a clever media plan to counter the threats of rumors is possible but only after we first free ourselves of the illusion that publishing plain and simple news reflects negatively on society. We must also sideline the restrictions that kill creativity and prevent the news from reaching the public in time for it to be of use. The public is led to believe that the responsible source giving the statement is the only one capable of refuting a rumor. A reaction by the responsible source may only give added credibility to what is being circulated privately. People seek other sources for information regardless of whether the sources are reliable or not.
It is understandable that official quarters handling the news find difficulty dealing with every incident. It is also true that not all news is intended for publication and that certain things are not made public and some news is delayed for one reason or the other. What is not acceptable, however, is for an incident to occur in a public place — such as a market crowded with people — and then for responsible sources to be the last to speak. Instead of delaying the announcement for a long time, news ought to be released gradually, depending on developments.
Arab News From the Local Press 25 March 2003
