A few nights ago disaster struck my friendship group at RMIT Village. One of my good friends fell 3 storeys off of a balcony and impaled herself on a wrought iron fence. Of course everyone that knew her was devastated, she’s a beautiful person and we love her dearly. But the occurrence made me realise some things about the Media and some negative aspects of it.

I first heard about the ordeal through my roommate who texted me saying “apparently someone at the village fell off their 3rd floor balcony last night!??!??!!?”, I proceeded to google the matter after she confirmed that it was true as she had seen it on the news. The news did not say whether the person had survived or not, they only said that two iron arrowheads from the fence had pierced through the person’s abdomen. I was horrified and didn’t know what to think. Had they jumped? fallen? Who could it possibly be?

I frantically raced back and sat in the creepily quiet courtyard. No one was around, so I sat down and peered around at each apartment, trying to think who I knew that lived on the 3rd floor and wondering whether it could have been them but not seriously considering it. I heard a tapping behind me, only to see my group of friends were all in the lounge in reception. I smiled and waved, indicating that I would come in. However they all held up their hands to say no, pointing that one of the girls was coming out to talk to me. Thinking this was strange I wasn’t sure what to think. My friend explained what had happened as I begun to understand that it was our friend who had fallen, she was in a critical condition in the ICU, and had been undergoing surgery for hours. No one knew how she was and we were most definitely not allowed to visit her as it was strictly family only.

I went inside to join the rest of them, sitting quietly, waiting for news. We sat there for hours, supporting each other, especially those who had seen it all happen and were blaming themselves for everything that was happening. We were deprived of any news for 3 days. It was an ordeal, through which we were always keeping an eye out for one another, making sure they were okay, and assuring each other that our friend who fell would be okay too.

Eventually we heard from her mother, thanking us all for our concern and care, and letting us know that she was going to be okay.

Yesterday someone from the group received a message from another resident at the village, who wished to base her final assignment on the accident and requested to interview us all so as she could get to know exactly what happened and to review the girl who fell’s personality and things. We were all astounded by the audacity she had to be so insensitive. I personally was hurt by the request. I had just been through a scare, thinking that my friend was either dead or dying, and yet someone out there wanted to have us retell the details just so she could get an interesting assignment topic? No. I feel invasive enough just writing this post.

This event really brought to light a negative side of the media today. Media is so nosy and insensitive. As soon as something happens to someone they or their loved ones are prodded by cameras and microphones from every direction. The need to know expels all thoughts of respect. I see it all the time on the news, people walking out of court who have to cover their faces, interviews of people crying after they’ve witnessed an accident or lost someone close to them. The demand for the best news the fastest has caused people to invade the privacy of people. I mean, I love all media, it makes me curious and I eat up the news, but to almost face being an interviewee was scary. I know that my situation does not compare to a pile up of cars and trucks on a highway, and I didn’t have 7 news reporters talking to me, but the whole situation really gave me a small taste of what that could possibly be like, and I didn’t like at all how it felt.