It happens to us on a daily basis – we flip the channel, pick up the paper, or click onto a website about a fatal car accident.

But what constitutes this as news? Most often it’s not.

Why not?

Well, I am astonished that media conglomerates choose to exploit death while failing to contribute to an overarching political debate. There are examples where accident stories are important to promote a cause or inform the public about a specific danger – as is the case as with drunk driving or a defect in certain car models.

As I write this, there is adrenaline pumping in my shoulders at the thought of the many fatal accidents that are occuring. And I believe it is this type of fear the media has been instilling in us for years; playing with our emotions and distracting us from finding the positives in our world.

What makes an accident news?

As a journalist, I have been in the unfortunate position of covering fatal accidents.

In one particular case, I had the responsibility of honouring a college student, Natalie Sylvestre, who passed in a car accident.

I chose to focus on the memorial the college started in her honour – providing a bursary to students in the nursing program from which she graduated.

Also, in interviewing friends and colleagues, I attempted to paint a picture of her character in life and not the tragedy that was her death. I did not go into interviews to dig up the dirt on how she died but rather focussed on what people would miss about her existence.

By starting the story with the unification of her peers to remember Natalie, I felt this was a better approach than bluntly exploiting her death. I did mention how she died in the second paragraph but stuck to the facts: date, parties involved, and her role as a passenger.

But wait, Riaz, what about your story where the women dies in the car accident after surviving the Air France crash?

The story was an interesting twist of fate where Johanna Ganthaler passed away after averting death. I opted to speak about luck versus fate, and was well aware of the laughs being shared around the blogosphere about this case. It continues to surprise me how ‘funny’ some people can find death when it is not someone close to them.

You may find this view uptight, but I prefer jokes where people at least have an opportunity to defend themselves.

So what is my problem with accident stories?

I think it is necessary to inform the community of a local’s passing, but the manner in which this is done is often impersonal and provocative. There are instances in which I have read accident articles without any names at all.

So my question is: what is the point of sharing with readers that there was a fatal car accident if no one is going to be mentioned or honoured?

I am not sure of the hidden agenda behind this type of journalism but I know there is definitely an aspect of fear-mongering involved.

I really don’t understand how publications plan to sell content in the information age when the stories are redundant.

The media explains how everything can kill us nowadays – but wait, everything already could before.

* * *

This story is dedicated to every nameless and faceless accident victim who was exploited to sell media.

- Riaz Sidi

Related posts:

1. Woman Late For Air France Flight #447 Dies in Car Accident
2. Baby Boomers Busted!
3. Promiscuous Women Prevent Armageddon
4. Prophet Muhammad Goes Viral – Pakistan Bans Facebook & YouTube
5. Swine Flu Farce