The Story of Aylan

IT IS SAD!
     Lives are being lost in the Mediterranean Sea each year. People are trying to flee their homes for a safe haven in another country and sometimes even another continent. This was the case of a Syrian child, a young child, who drowned and washes ashore in  the coast of Bodrum, Turkey. His tragic fate was reported by the Independent and the first image was one which shocked me after I had read the article. The image was of Aylan when he was alive, happy and full of joy; and a long life ahead of him.

Aylan, on the left, was a sad casualty of a boat carrying refugees to Greece capsizing. I believe the article was started with this image as a symbol of innocence. Innocent lives are being lost in their efforts to reach a better life away from dictatorships or away from wars or Isis militants as was the case of Aylan and his family. This image was intended to pull on the emotions of the readers. For them to realize and ponder that kids are at stake as well and that their lives matter and should be offered help as well as anyone seeking refuge. While it might seem unfair to the readers for this article to start  with an image of the kid being alive and happy because it renders them unaware and vulnerable for the heart wrenching shock when they see the images of the dead kid face down on the sea shore. Just reading about it and the fate of the child without an actual picture caused discomfort. It however, is better for this to be this way for the reader to really feel the pain many refugees are feeling and fates they are meeting.  The article in this way encapsulates and attains the reaction the audiences should be having to the matter.

     I will reinforce that printing this images was the best thing The Independent could have done to get the reaction out of the people; to make them feel the pain and discomfort and relate to the victims. It was however, not ethical. They revealed the identity and made an innocent kid a symbol for a news story. The child was not supposed to be made a publicity thing with name and personal details. Yes, make a call to action but i feel it is disrespectful for his identity to be revealed and made public. The loss holds sentimental trauma for the family and should have not be done.

     While to me, the revelation of the details of the kid and making him a symbol was the best thing the press could have done to get the attention of the people, there were other options. They could have gotten the same effect with a great story. Words hold a lot of emotion. Describe what happened and vividly describe how the drowned victims were found. Try to pull on the emotions of the people all in the same calling them to action.

     While it was a good effect to print the image of the kid, it was not the moral way to go. They could have found other ways to get the attention of the people. It was not ethical to reveal the identity of the kid. He is a minor, and the images hold a lot of emotional pull and shock to the audiences. The family of Aylan could have not been in agreement of the report. The name of the child could have also been changed out of respect.

     What makes this article newsworthy is that it has Timeliness. There are always refugees trying to flee their country for better opportunities like in the case of Mexicans to the United States or Syrians, as Aylan to Europe of Greece. It also has a conflict; somebody has died. A kid has drowned. The novelty lies here also. Not everyday does a boat capsize to kill a lot of refugees, especially children; and it it does happen it is seldom reported. Most importantly, the news article has human interest. Kids are suffering; dying. People are in need of help and countries sometimes shut their doors to them. What if one day we were in that same position? Wouldn't we want help?