Disasters as media events: The rescue of the Chilean miners on national and global television

Abstract

Focusing on the 2010 rescue of Chilean miners, this article problematizes some current perspectives on media events, particularly in relation to disasters. An analysis of the narratives constructed during the live broadcast of the rescue by the Chilean government and a national and a global television station suggests that media events theories should go beyond the categories of “integrative” and “disruptive.” Additionally, it appears that the polyphony of media events introduced by global media organizations is not a guarantee of alternative voices. Finally, this story is a powerful reminder that disasters can be used for political purposes, overlooking in this case the responsibility of the company owning the mine and the communicative controls imposed by the authorities.