East Harlem Explosion

3 Sources: 1) Fox News @5
                2) Eyewitness News @ 6
                3) CNN Situation Room @ 6

Story: About a week ago, there was an explosion in an East Harlem neighborhood which killed 8 people.

1)Fox News @ 5pm, Wednesday, 3/19

The anchors explain that a week ago on that day, there had been "an explosion that rocked a Harlem neighborhood". They recapped the story a little by saying that an "explosion in a building collapse killed 8 people" and showed empathy in the way they said that "many of the survivors lost everything they had". The anchors give it over to a reporter on the scene at East Harlem, and tell how she was there "from the very beginning" of it all last week. This shows they were concerned with the story from the start and are still following it. The reporter says "the families who used to call 1644 and 1646 park avenue home no longer have homes there, as you guys know" and this allows the audience to feel some empathy in realizing they have a home and these people lost theirs and don't have a place to call home at all. As the reporter is speaking, a caption comes up at the bottom, below footage of the ruins and the scene, that reads "Victim Donation Drive". Just using the word "victim" is trying to get the audience to see these people as in need. "They lost everything in that explosion and are in need of the little things..." <--a call to the audience. "This church here on 118th street is doing everything it can to help them get back on their feet". Then it goes to footage of people donating boxes of items to the New Beginning International Ministries in East Harlem. It then goes to footage about people telling how they've helped and what they've donated. Seeing real people doing good things such as this encourages the audience to do the same. Then they go to talking about the volunteers who are helping with the donations and organizing everything. The reporter tells where the donations will be kept  for "those who lost everything". Again, this statement encourages empathy from the audience. The reporter then tells the audience more about the situation "investigators found a gas leak in a gas main on park avenue adjacent to the site of the deadly blast"..."the NTSB determined an 8 inch cast iron plastic main between 116th and 117th streets which failed a pressure test, exposing the leak. It's still unclear what ignited the explosion". Then it goes to footage of the pastor of the New Beginning church praying as the reporter says "it was a time for prayer and reflection after the deadly blast" <--using the word "deadly" to allow the audience to realize the seriousness and horror of the situation. Then we go to an individual who lost their good friend and what he had to say. It shows a picture of his friend, so the audience now can identify the victim, and it becomes a better way to connect with and feel empathy for the victim and the situation. Then it goes to the pastor speaking about how his doors are open to the community while it repairs. He says a few words to welcome people to see him and the church for help and then the reporter tells how only a couple of people have actually taken advantage of this, so the church really wants to get the word out to people. And being on the news is obviously a great way to spread that word. The reporter also tells the audience when the church is open and to come by. She also tells people that if they wish to drop off any donations, when and where to do so, as well as gives the address for the actual church. She then sends it back to the anchors whoe respond "we hope they get good reactions", which is showing that they care and hope for the best, and do not just dismiss it.

2) Eyewitness News @ 6pm, Wednesday, 3/19

Next to an anchor appears the caption "Deadly Explosion" when covering the East Harlem explosion. The word "deadly" is used, just like in Fox, to allow the audience to know the seriousness and suspect the horror of the situation. Eyewitness news covers something different about the explosion however. It talked about how the funeral services for 3 of the victims were held on this day. The anchor talks about friends and family remembering those who died (which can connect the audience to the victims by allowing them to relate to their own family and friends if they were to pass). It also talks in some detail about a couple of the individuals and who they were, which personalizes the victims encouraging more empathy and connection from the audience with the victims. Especially since it mentioned how one of them was a military man, which can pull at the heart strings of many patriotic Americans. The footage also shows a family friend and her words and thoughts. It also speaks about where one of them will be buried as well as showing pictures of a couple of the victims, as Fox did, to make a better and more personal connection. It only mentioned 2 of the 8 victims and did not spend much time on the topic itself before moving on to the next story.

3) CNN Situation Room @ 6pm, Wednesday, 3/19

CNN actually did not mention the Harlem explosion...in fact, all they spoke about was the Malaysian plane that went missing...