On the earthquake coverage

[Keyword: onlinejournalism]. Brief but interesting reflection by Simon Waldman on how "citizen journalism is brilliant for colour - but terrible for context":

"A BBC staffer on holiday in Pi-Pi describing what happened. Basically, there was a load of panic and shouting, followed by everyone running up onto higher ground. From there, everyone got onto their mobiles, to call people back home (the UK, Australia, US, etc) where people were watching satellite news channels, and finding out that the chances of a tsunami were very slight - and it would soon be safe for them to go back to their huts."