Satirizing a tragedy as only The Onion can, the article pokes fun at the industrialized world’s habit of ignoring the plight of underdeveloped nations until such time as something really interesting happens – like a natural disaster. If it bleeds, it leads, as the saying goes.
Cynicism and satire aside, what’s been really interesting with this disaster is just how much of an impact social media has had on fundraising efforts for Haiti.
Traditional media has led the way in bringing Haiti’s plight to the world’s attention, by beaming images from the disaster to TVs, newspapers and websites around the world, and by broadcasting PSAs and fundraising initiatives on television and radio. But social media has been an essential link – starting almost immediately following the earthquake – by allowing the TV watchers and newspaper readers to direct non-traditional media consumers to these mediums, by giving non-profits and corporations an outlet to link their clients to fundraising efforts, and by providing aid agencies such as the Red Cross and CARE an opportunity to provide their followers (and by extension, their followers’ followers) with live to-the-minute updates from the disaster zone.
At a more micro level, several grassroots-organized fundraising efforts have both taken shape and been promoted largely through social media. In Toronto, fundraising efforts such as @HaiHaiTO and #EatDrinkandGive have been given exposure through the traditional local media channels, but for the most part they have attracted volunteers and sponsors, received promotion and sold tickets through Twitter, Facebook and blog mentions.
Given the speed at which these messages have spread via social media, it’s not hard to imagine that relief efforts for the next major global disaster will be led by social media, with traditional media taking a supporting role.
Many people point to the assassination of President Kennedy and subsequent murder of his alleged killer as the defining moment illustrating the power of television. Similarly, the around-the-clock coverage of the first Gulf War became the defining moment for dedicated news networks. Considering what’s taken place over the past couple of weeks, it seems the Haiti earthquake is sure to be forever linked with the evolution of social media from fad to phenomenon.
