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Not Cell Phone Explosion, but Accident Blamed for Death
People were shocked Thursday by the news that an excavator driver was killed in a suspected cell phone battery explosion. Citing initial police investigations, media outlets rushed to report that the explosion was to blame for the death of the victim. However, people were shocked again just one day later when the shocking news proved false.
The incident took place Thursday morning when the 33-year-old driver, identified by his surname Seo, was found dead in a stone quarry in Cheongwon, North Chungcheong Province. Seo's colleague reported the case to the police, stating the victim lay dead on the ground and that his mobile phone battery had exploded inside his left chest pocket. The police disclosed the case to the media based on their initial investigation, saying that Seo was presumed to have been killed by the blast.
Thus, media outlets reported the case without questioning other possibilities about the cause of death. Most of them carried headlines such as ``A cell phone explodes similar to a case in China,'' ``Cell phone users worried about explosions,'' and ``Controversy rises over mobile phone safety.'' Most stories lacked balance and warned of the dangers of cell phone batteries although LG Electronics, the maker of the ill-fated phone, claimed there was little possibility that the battery had exploded.
Many readers of newspapers and television viewers wanted to know how the battery exploded. They also asked: Was the explosion powerful enough to cause death? Most news stories about the case failed to provide answers.
On Friday, the stories proved false as the police arrested the co-worker, identified as Kwon, and charged him with vehicular manslaughter. According to the police, Kwon lied to investigators in an attempt to cover up the accident. He confessed that it was him, not the mobile phone, that killed Seo when he hit him while reversing his excavator. The phone was on fire when he found the victim lying on the ground.
The incident reminds us of media frenzies and sensational reporting, which inevitably lead to false stories. We have often seen cases of fierce competition for media coverage causing irresponsible reporting not based on facts but on rumors, speculation and unconfirmed sources. The local press has long been under criticism for their incorrect reporting although media outlets have recently begun to recognize their responsibility.
What's important for news stores is timeliness and accuracy. Late stories are of little news value however well structured and informative they are. On the other hand, inaccurate stories are the last thing any newspapers or broadcasters want to have. In reality, reporters, editors and publishers are struggling to meet both timeliness and accuracy. They try not to sacrifice one thing for the other. But, it is not easy for them to do both at the same time in a highly competitive environment.
Media outlets should learn a lesson from the cell phone case. They must be careful not to repeat the mistake of false reporting, which might cause irrevocable damage to businesses, the public, the government, or the country. |
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