Take Back Media!

Comment by iDive Sharks on February 26, 2010 at 1:27pm

Hi Terry,
Thanks for raising very valid points in this blog post. It never ceases to amaze me the impact that a film such as Jaws, almost 35 years on from its release, continues to impact people's thought process and misunderstanding of sharks.

I think it would be a perfect world to expect newspapers and media to develop a conscience in such matters. What is important to them at the end of the day is to get eyes on pages, to get reader numbers up and to increase advertising revenue. They do this by creating sensationalism. That's their business plan, period. I also imagine that many of their reader base are landlocked with very few of them having any prolonged contact with the Ocean let alone any understanding of the marine inhabitants.

When you suggest looking for a solution I think many of the folks coming to the site don't see the potential we have here to combat such reporting. There are so many stories out there using shock tactics to sell publications on a daily basis and yet we have one solution here. We have the proof, in imagery, in the thousands hosted here that show sharks not as the 'flesh tearing, beasts from the deep" that these gutter reporters wish upon their reader base but as animals that can be interacted with if done so in a responsible and professional manner.

This site should not be seen as a 'Shark Huggers Society" and I'm hoping that folks don't perceive it to be as such. From this point on when I see such reporting I will basically, as I responded to this one, point the readers to check out the site here, to check the imagery of people in the company of multiple sharks, of those sharks in baited situations and yet where all divers seem to keep their flesh intact. This is the power we have right here. Many publications prey on the visual element to sell their stories. Why not do the same in response to that and in doing so introduce to the same reader base the 'other side of the coin' which is hopefully portrayed in a way that is not as tainted as the story.

Eminent individuals such as the ones you mentioned are already a part of this membership, others have been invited and are yet to join. Through their professions though they are very busy people, requesting for them to become additionally laden with such a media liaison position may not be the solution. We now, at the time of responding, have some 657 members, if just 5% of this membership decided to react eloquently, politely and positively to any such reports then surely this would do far more to inform the readers of such future articles.

Social media is a powerful tool. It would be great to see some of the folks here using it to the full potential.

Cheers,
Mark.

Comment by Widenham Surf on March 5, 2010 at 4:45am

Hey Terry,

I had a look at the latest link you posted showing just how damaging the media can be. I wish it were true when they say “don’t believe everything you hear or read”. Quite clearly the papers are trying to boost their sales here by posting a story they know will draw attention.

It’s sad that you read lines like “the beasts attacked and began tearing at his flesh” and as for the so called sightings of 100’s of dorsal fins the following day, I think paranoia had taken control !!! They virtually insinuate all the sharks are man killers and they came to the area because of the kite surfer.

The Arial photo does not clearly show whether the dark shapes are sharks or not. You see the same thing every year around June when Sardines migrate north from the cold waters of the Cape (South Africa) to the warmer waters north. Large shoals of Sardines are followed by seals, game fish and ultimately sharks.

Cheers
Sean

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