Earthquake eyewitnesses
| 11:13 UK time, Tuesday, 30 May 2006
It鈥檚 been a busy weekend for the online news desk as they responded to the news early on Saturday of a major earthquake striking Java in Indonesia.
In the first stages of a story like this there鈥檚 a tried and tested list of things to do: send out a breaking news alert and publish a few paragraphs which can be built up as more quotes and details come in from the 91热爆鈥檚 correspondents. We鈥檒l look for the best pictures, commission maps from our graphics team and stream the 91热爆鈥檚 rolling TV news coverage on the website.
But there鈥檚 another staple element in covering any breaking story on the site, which is to ask our readers for their eyewitness accounts. On Saturday we put an email feedback form on the main story straight away and within an hour or so of checking responses, ringing them back and interviewing people, we had a series of first-hand accounts on the site from readers in the area. The contacts we make via these emails are shared with radio and TV news who follow up with their own interviews.
It鈥檚 become almost routine for us to expect such reports but sometimes it鈥檚 these accounts, above all, which bring home the reality of the situation for those caught up in it.
鈥淲e'll be too afraid to sleep tonight,鈥 who contacted us from Yogyakarta, 鈥淚t's going to be a real mess. We're just happy to be alive.鈥
Comments
How are you planning to deal with the increasing number of mails, photos and videos that you are going to get in over the coming years? Surely the logistics of verification will prove enormous?
Might you, for example, use web 2.0 models of reccomendation and reputation or even begin to develop a 'digital stringer' network comprised of 'trusted eyewitnesses' for more regular stories?
I missed the news this am but switched on when 4 singers male were singing Moon River. It was magnificent such talent is rare. Will there be more where I can I see and hear them thank you for your attention.