A Stark Contrast: Coverage and Response to Two Maritime Disasters
The Missing Titan Submersible & The Migrant Shipwreck
As I sit here, my eyes are glued to the news, my heart heavy with worry and wonder. I’m horrified about the impending doom facing the wealthy adventurer thrill-seekers packed into the Titan. It is an unimaginable nightmare. What are they thinking? Are they talking? How does one face death in such a precarious and doomsday scenario? The thought alone sends shivers down my spine.
Then again, I think about a poor migrant who decides to pack up and pull roots in search of a new beginning, only to face death in another unimaginable nightmare. What does it take to make such a decision with no certain outcome?
The world has witnessed two shipwrecks in recent weeks, one involving a handful of wealthy people and the other hundreds of migrants. The contrast in media coverage and rescue efforts is astonishing and deeply disheartening.
On the one hand, we have the Titan, the missing submersible vessel where people pay exorbitant sums of money to dive deep in the North Atlantic to catch a glimpse of the wreckage of another doomed ship, the Titanic. There are just five people cramped on board—wealthy business people and dive experts—like me, the entire world is captivated by their fate. Enormous resources from multiple countries have been deployed to rescue them, and the media exhaustively cover every tiny development.
A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, soars above the French research vessel L'Atalante, situated roughly 900 miles east of Cape Cod, as they jointly search for Titan on June 21, 2023. Image from the U.S. Coast Guard via PBS.
On the other hand, we have a fishing boat crammed with migrants who have likely drained what little money they’ve saved and paid for a different kind of voyage and adventure: hope for a new life. The boat sank in the Greek Mediterranean last week, and hundreds of people are missing and likely dead, including over 100 children. The rescue efforts are minimal, and the media coverage is patchy at best. I’m not the only one taken aback by the contrast between these two stories. The Washington Post notes the disparities between the Pakistani billionaire who paid $500,000 for him and his son to see the Titanic and the fact that many of the 700 migrants aboard the fishing vessel had journeyed from Pakistan to Libya and aboard this boat in search of a new life. USA Today, The Guardian, NBC News, Australian news outlet News.com.au, and Human rights organizations all have exhibited frustration and are appalled by the stark difference in attention and resources dedicated to the two crises.
I, too, am stunned by the extent of the tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean and the lack of attention and resources for the search and rescue efforts there. The news of so many innocent lives lost, particularly children, and the heart-wrenching breakup of families is utterly devastating. To think of individuals facing their untimely deaths, desperately clinging to hope, only to succumb to the unforgiving waters, is a profound tragedy. Their dreams, hopes, and desires for a new life in a new land are abruptly erased.
In the world of media, certain stories captivate our attention while others fade into obscurity. However, the disparity in coverage and rescue efforts raises important questions about societal values and the allocation of resources.
The Titanic Submersible: A Captivating Tale
The story of the missing Titan, a submersible vessel carrying millionaires and billionaires on an exploration mission to the Titanic, has dominated headlines worldwide. The unfolding events have been meticulously covered, capturing the attention of me and almost everyone. The circumstances of this catastrophic incident are so surreal that they resemble a movie plot or a work of fiction rather than a factual occurrence. There’s no question that the media’s fascination with this mission has been largely due to the involvement of wealthy individuals and the unique aspects of the mission.
The Migrant Boat Tragedy: A Neglected Humanitarian Crisis
In stark contrast, a horrific shipwreck involving a fishing boat transporting migrants from Libya to Italy has received significantly less media attention. This tragedy, one of the worst in the Mediterranean Sea, resulted in the loss of countless innocent lives, including over 100 children. While some coverage has been given to this event, it pales in comparison to the extensive reporting on the Titan's disappearance. The lack of attention and resources dedicated to this humanitarian crisis raises concerns about the value placed on human lives.
The Resource Disparity: A Dark Reflection on Humanity
The search and rescue efforts for the Titan have attracted immense resources and support from multiple countries—all in an effort to locate and save the lives of the five adventurers on board. Yet, the response to the migrant shipwreck has been notably different, with reports highlighting a lack of immediate action, scarcity of resources, and poor and inadequate rescue efforts. Sadly, the stark resource disparity in these two situations underscores the priorities and values reflected by society.
Where’s The Humanity? The Dehumanization of Migrants
Migrants, who were rescued from a capsized boat in the open sea off Greece, are pictured seeking shelter inside a warehouse at the port of Kalamata, Greece, on June 15, 2023. The photo was captured by Angelos Tzortzinis/REUTERS.
The framing of the two tragedies in media coverage reveals a troubling bias. The migrants aboard the sunken boat are often referred to as a faceless group, collectively labeled as "migrants." This labeling diminishes their individuality and humanity, hindering empathy from the public and policymakers. In contrast, the wealthy individuals in the submersible are portrayed as distinct personalities, drawing greater compassion and media attention. I would argue that this discrepancy highlights the need for a more compassionate, inclusive, and personal human approach to migrant crossings, crises, and living conditions.
These contrasting crises offer an opportunity for introspection and reevaluating societal values. Can these tragedies catalyze change? We must focus on the shared humanity of everyone on our planet. We must recognize the inherent value of every human life, irrespective of origin, wealth, or social status. By recognizing and acknowledging the disparities in media coverage and response, I hope we move to a more equitable distribution of resources and shift the public consciousness. Ultimately, tragedies like these should remind us of our shared responsibility to prioritize compassion and empathy for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
So, the stark contrast in coverage, allocation of resources, and overall response between the missing Titan submersible and the migrant shipwreck highlight a disturbing disparity in societal values. Despite the captivating tales of wealthy adventurers that capture the world’s attention and gather immense backing, the hardships faced by countless migrants remain invisible and receive inadequate aid. These tragedies serve as a wake-up call to reconsider our priorities.
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The disparity lies squarely with the media and the countries both tragedies are surrounded by. As for the Titan, it went down off the coasts of two very wealthy countries. The USA and Canada. Both of which have immense resources to address this tragedy and take action, IF possible. The media, since close by is quite capable to direct its attention to the event which is close to home. As for the migrant ship that sunk in the Mediterranean, one must consider again, the countries that the event is surrounded by or in close proximity to. Libya, Italy, Tunisia, Greece with your longshots being France, Egypt and Spain. It is those countries who, by outward appearance, have NOT devoted resources to that tragedy. Here you also have mainstream media laziness. "It's too far away, let them cover it and we'll take notes of it in one of our broadcasts". It is a human interest story yes, and if it can be capitalized upon, you can be sure it will be.
This has nothing to do with the wealth of those victims of the tragedy but has more to do with the countries that are in close proximity that can throw resources at it. You've traveled the world, you have seen how many countries treat their people, their poor and how much attention they pay to the lives of their people. In many countries, people are a commodity, a resource and/or a burden. It is a sad reality.
Could the US have sent resources there to help in the Mediterranean? Perhaps, but should we? It's not the responsibility of the US, Canada, UK, etc, but, if in the area, by all means, help. Who owned the boat? Maybe they should be held accountable, but will they be? Was the boat overloaded? If so, why? Will they throw resources at it? Probably not. Again, another sad reality.
Again, this is not about wealth. But it certainly is about accountability and convenience.