There is very little to say about what is happening in Japan currently, because pictures that are circulating on the internet via social media (Facebook, Twitter) and news organizations (CNN, NBC, FOX) provide so much of the story. They also tell statistics, numbers. The death toll is over 1,300 people. More earthquakes above a 7.0 magnitude are expected. 2.5 million people are without power.
The number of people that have died in this is staggering, almost overwhelming. This past Fall, someone in my family died, and she died in a situation that reporters covered as a story. I witnessed first hand how reporters tend to gloss over certain facts, or not have them at all. I realized that, as a journalist, everything I report on means something to someone. Also, I learned that there is a family behind every death in every story. For every person that has died in Japan or is missing, there are friends and family that are affected by the loss. I have friends that live in Japan that I would like to get in touch with to see if they are okay. I have been unable to do so, but will continue to try. One of these is a girl that we hosted as an exchange student- we were her family while she was in the United States. She's an amazing young woman that wants to work as an English-Japanese translator. Every story on the news has another side, because journalists can only choose certain things to present. No news organization has presented this personal side of the story yet, and as soon as I am in touch with my friend, her story will be known.
Traditional news organizations will cover numbers and government statements and facts about how earthquakes and tsunamis work. While this information is important to know and assess, the human side of this tragedy cannot be overlooked or ignored.
