Defining a Crisis: Boarding

Abstract

Abstract: The chapter addresses the first research question: What does “crisis” in “crisis reporting” mean? Based on the data, the author argues that for journalists, crisis is defined by its polyphony and multi-level scope. Crisis is both an inside-the-media situation and an outside-the-media major negative event, defined by the suffering of individuals. Crisis is both short-term and continuous, both real and media-constructed. As a result, crisis is a ubiquitous, all-encompassing phenomenon, an environment for life; the journalists live inside the crisis, rather than with it or next to it. This also means that crisis reporters simply cannot be mere observers and non-actors. The fictional plot of the chapter observes James queuing, entering the airplane, and meeting other fictional characters.