New Media Saves Lives

Jordan Swerid
April 2, 2010

A recent disaster occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m.. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just 10 miles west of Porte-au-Prince and its 2 million inhabitants. Haiti is known for being the poorest country in the America’s and the disastrous earthquake has only worsened the conditions. There had already been over 9,000 peacekeepers in Haiti since 2004, but after the earthquake, that number increased exponentially as over three million people were in need of emergency aid. Reports indicate that there have been over 150,000 people who have died from the earthquake. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now called Haiti (previously not Haiti). All of this information has been supplied to society in many ways. One way that information has been spread, support groups formed, and great amounts of money supplied to Haiti has been through what we call today, “New Media.”
The definition of New Media is: “New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century. Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, interactive and impartial. Some examples may be the Internet, websites, computer multimedia, computer games, CD-ROMS, and DVDs. New media is not television programs, feature films, magazines, books, or paper-based publications.” Through this so-called “New Media,” we have found programs such as Twitter, Facebook, and the use of texting to work as a great advantage to society. Not only has it helped people stay connected and relay information globally at a fast pace, but it has heavily helped through worldly disasters and other events.
After the tragic earthquake in Haiti occurred, it took only a few seconds before social media networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter began to explode with information. Videos, photos, and messages started popping up everywhere and before some news stations even had a chance to put together the information, most of the world had already known what was going on. The update of Twitter accounts has been very beneficial too people in other ways also. Twitter has been providing updates on where clean drinking water is available in Port-au-Prince and where people are still trapped under rubble and debris. But Twitter and Facebook are only a few “New Media” ways that have been used through the disastrous event. The use of texting on cell phones proved to be evenly as valuable or possibly even more valuable than other “New Media” technologies. The Toronto Sun reported, “… the $37 million that poured in over the first few days [of money relief], $8 million was from text messages. Callers were able to text a specific number and have a $5 or $10 donation added to their phone bill. Some earthquake victims, it has been reported, even used text messaging to alert rescue workers to their whereabouts in the hopes they might be found.” People were able to help people in need just by a click of a few buttons and some others were even able to help themselves.
Many people find “New Media” to be very helpful but have different views of why they believe its so important. One view is by Basil Guinane, a professor at Humber College’s School of Media Studies. He believes New Media is so important because, “It’s the ability to reach large numbers of people instantly, and get them working in a concerted effort,” he said, adding new media immediately connected an entire world to the Haitian earthquake.” “It’s not some disaster that happened way over there and doesn’t impact you. You’re suddenly exposed.” His theory is interesting and very true. We do have to be careful how we use it. Greg Goralski said with a slight worry, “We have to be very careful with how we use it,” he said. “In a lot of ways, it (new media) is out of control when compared to traditional media. It can be used for very negative and for very positive things.” If you have ever used New Media, you would know of all the mistakes that can happen while using it. Whether it’s through sending accidental texts, receiving incorrect information, or getting the wrong idea of what someone is trying to say (among many others), you will have or eventually in some way make a mistake using New Media.
In conclusion, the positives are very high when it comes to New Media. It has already saved millions of lives so far and there will be many more lives it saves in the future. The benefits that people from Haiti received after the earthquake was astronomical. Although there are negatives from it, I strongly believe that New Media is important to society today and for the future.


Websites Used:
http://www.torontosun.com/news/haiti/2010/01/17/12504141.html
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/01/13/fast-facts-haiti-earthquake/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=define%3A+new+media&aq=f&aqi=l1g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=