Earthquakes and ‘divine punishment’

Due to low literacy rates, the majority of people rely on TV news discussions to make up their minds on a given issue.

The earthquake, on September 24, wrecked hundreds of homes and other structures in the impoverished Balochistan province, killing almost 600 people, including women, children and injuring hundreds more. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale — an intensity strong enough to cause widespread destruction of life and property. The disaster drew the electronic media’s attention instantly with news channels reporting varying accounts of death and misery in the affected areas.

Famous and highly-rated anchorpersons could be seen on TV screens, rushing to obtain comments from persons whom they considered experts on earthquakes and its related matters. On one such reputed news channel, an anchorperson contacted a senior theologian and asked for his perspective on the earthquake. In other words, the news anchor was asking a person with expertise in religion to comment and educate the public on the spontaneous movements of tectonic plates, in the earth’s crust, that release extremely high amounts of energy, in the form of waves and result in the tremors we call earthquakes. This ‘earthquake expert’, who was contacted for comments, began his narrative with the theory of divine punishment. According to him, it was the sins of the victims and not the geological realities of the region that caused the 7.8 earthquake. While flatly rejecting scientific explanations, he blamed the depravity and decaying morality of the people for the shakes. In short, he was trying to imply that those unfortunate people, who have been hit by the earthquake and now rendered homeless under the open sky in this approaching winter, are morally depraved and sinners. This narrative is a mindless accusation against the victims and a serious insult to those who are mourning the deaths of their loved ones.

One can’t help but wonder what compels these journalists and anchorpersons to do improper things, while on air, like making a theologian explain a complicated scientific case. It’s like asking a skilled tailor how to fix a broken engine. It is saddening that such irksome practices are becoming more and more conspicuous on the electronic media. As the number of news channels is growing and competition among different media outlets intensifying, professionalism is slipping away from the omnipresent screens. All corporate interests and competition aside, the media community should act responsibly while performing its professional duties, since the voice of media persons reaches millions of people across the country, on a daily basis. Due to low literacy rates and a lack of study and research culture in the country, a great majority of the people rely on discussions on news channels to make up their minds on a given issue. The freedom and influence the media enjoys today is unprecedented in Pakistan’s history, but with freedom and power come certain responsibilities.

The earthquake was not the result of the alleged depravity or wickedness of the impoverished and destitute people of Balochistan. A more rational explanation for this unpredictable natural phenomenon lies in the wealth of science.

Such narratives, being aired from reputed news channels, are really disappointing. The media’s growing significance during national emergencies puts heavy responsibilities on the shoulders of journalists and anchorpersons. They are the shapers of public opinion and as such, are expected to exercise professionalism in the performance of their duties. In their efforts to outsmart their counterparts, media persons should avoid the temptation to compromise the quality of the content they offer the general public.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th,  2013.

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