Prepare for the discussion by reading the following contemporary account about the fate of the RMS Titanic.

Question

LINER TITANIC WRECKED BY ICEBERG; PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER VESSELS IN MID OCEAN

The Day Book

April 15, 1912

Biggest Steamer Ever Afloat Crumpled Up Like Toy in Nighttime — Wireless Saves 2,000 Passengers and Crew.

Halifax, N. S., April 15. — Kept afloat only by her watertight compartments, the great White Star liner Titanic slowly is crawling toward this harbor.

Her 1,470 passengers were taken off and put aboard other steamers in mid ocean. They may thank a calm sea and the wireless that they are alive today.

The disaster to the Titanic is unequalled in the history of navigation: The largest, most luxurious and best appointed vessel that ever floated, she seemed proof against any disaster.

Hardly another ship afloat could have withstood the terrific shock when the Titanic, driving through the night at more than half speed ahead, crashed bow on into a great submerged iceberg.

Just how the accident happened, whether there was a panic among the passengers, is not yet known here. Only the wireless appeals for help came from the stricken ship.

Captain E. S. Smith, admiral of the White Star fleet of liners and in command of the Titanic, realized acutely the danger to his passengers.

The first message was received at the Cape Race wireless station at 10:25 p.m. last night. It was demand for immediate help.

From Cape Race the news was spread far and wide by wireless and by telegraph. Vessel was reached and given the position of the Titanic, and urged to make all speed to her aid.

The Allan liner Virginian was the first. She turned her prow toward the wounded giant of the seas, and set out under forced draught. Then the Carpathia, of the Cunard line, and the Baltic, sister ship of the wrecked vessel, and the Allan liner Parisian, were reached, and all proceeded toward the Titanic.

Then came a time of cruel waiting. From the moment the first message reached Cape Race station until 12:27 a. m., there came flash after flash from the Titanic.

And each message was the same — “Hurry! Hurry! We are sinking and the passengers may be lost.”

Nothing could be done from the shore. The Titanic lay 450 miles south of Cape Race, and 1,150 miles due east of New York. The only hope for her passengers seemed to be from vessels in her immediate vicinity.

At 12:27 a.m. a message was relayed to the shore: “All women and children among passengers have been put in lifeboats; which are being held ready for lowering at moment’s notice.”

Three times the message was repeated, and then the wireless fell silent, and every attempt made by the stations on shore to get into communication with the sinking liner failed.

Then communication with the Virginian ceased, and those on shore could only wait helplessly.

It is known now that the reason the wireless failed was the atmospheric condition in the ice field in which the Titanic was lying helpless, but at the time it was feared that the great liner and her passengers and crew had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

At 8:30 this morning, a brief wireless saying that the Titanic was still afloat and proceeding under her own steam was picked up.

The White Star office in New York issued an official statement that it would be impossible for the Titanic to sink, no matter how badly she might have been injured.

Shortly after 9 o’clock, a message was received that the Carpathia, the Parisian and the Virginian were “standing by” the stricken ship, and that the Baltic was coming up fast.

Shortly afterwards came another message saying that the transfer of the passengers had been begun.

The first boat loads were rowed to the Carpathia. The life boats of the Titanic represent the last word in safety. They are wide, and non-sinkable. Each can hold 50 passengers. Only 35 were taken at a time today, however.

The work of transferring passengers at sea always is full of danger. It was less so today than usual. The wind had died down to nothing at all. The sea was comparatively quiet.

Many of the passengers carried their most valuable belongings with them. There was no attempt to move hand baggage. Nearly all the first class passengers of the great liner were financiers or society leaders. A conservative estimate of the value of jewelry and bonds carried among them is $5,000,000.

There was a great deal of conflict between the wireless messages received this afternoon.

One dispatch [sic] to Montreal declared the Titanic had sunk.

The conflict of messages was due to interference with messages and because all wireless messages had to be relayed.

Just what is to be done with the passengers transferred from the Titanic has not been decided. They may be transferred at sea again, and put aboard the Baltic, and brought to New York. They may stay on the steamers they now are on, and, these, ships may be ordered to Halifax, where special trains are already being got ready for the shipwrecked men and women.

New York, April 15. — The Titanic is the greatest of modern leviathans, being even bigger than the monster Olympic.

She also is the most luxuriously fitted and furnished vessel ever sent to sea.

She is 888 ½ feet long, with a 92 foot beam. Her registered tonnage is 43,000 tons, and her displacement 66,000 tons. 5,000 passengers could be accommodated aboard her, 600 in the cabins.

She carried a crew of 800 men. Her captain, E. S. Smith, is the veteran of the White Star service.

This was the Titanic’s maiden voyage. It was not begun well. When she was drawing out from Southampton docks, the suction she created in the harbor dislodged the American liner New York from her berth, breaking the two heavy hawsers like pack threads.

The New York swung toward the Titanic, and narrowly missed plunging into her. This was regarded as a bad omen by the captain and crew of the Olympic.

The passengers on the Titanic included some of the best known names in America. Mr. and John Jacob Astor, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Bruce Ismay, Clarence Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Straus, Countess Rothes, Archie Butt, Mrs. L. Appleton, Mr. and Mrs. Washington Dodge, and Benjamin Guggenheim were among them. Nearly every cabin passenger was a multi-millionaire.

Begin the discussion by responding to the following prompt:

If you know anything about the Titanic, you know it hit an iceberg and sank three hours later. For nearly 24 hours, the world knew only that it was a ship in distress. Most newspapers reported everyone was safe, when in fact, 1,517 passengers and crew perished. Many blamed the new wireless technology, but others thought reporters had fallen for the White Star hype about their "unsinkable" ship.

Analyze the media bias you see in the 1912 article about the Titanic. Discuss the possible reasons that led reporters to believe the White Star hype. Then consider how hype or propaganda may bias reporting today. Give examples if you can.

Post a detailed response to the Media Bias Discussion prompt. Then respond to two classmates' posts.

Answer 1

The contemporary account of the RMS Titanic disaster presented in The Day Book reveals significant media bias that reflected both the limitations of the period's technology and the expectations surrounding the Titanic's maiden voyage. Several factors contributed to this bias, illustrating how hype can shape reporting and public perception.

Analysis of Media Bias

1. Inaccurate Reporting of Safety: The article prominently features quotes such as "it would be impossible for the Titanic to sink, no matter how badly she might have been injured," reflecting a strong belief in the vessel’s touted "unsinkability." This statement serves to reassure the public, possibly suggesting an attempt to maintain trust in maritime travel and the White Star Line’s reputation.

2. Focus on the Ship’s Luxury Over Danger: Emphasis on the Titanic's size, luxury, and high-profile passengers demonstrates a sensationalist approach that prioritizes spectacle over the gravity of the situation. By portraying the Titanic as a marvel of engineering and luxury, reporters may have inadvertently downplayed the dire circumstances faced by those aboard.

3. Conflicting Messages and Panic Control: The wireless communication’s chaotic nature is acknowledged, yet there is an undercurrent that implies a lack of panic among passengers and crew. The repeated entreaties for help—"Hurry! Hurry! We are sinking!"—suggest a more frantic reality that the article glosses over. Instead of focusing on the urgency and real danger, the portrayal suggests a controlled and calm situation aboard the ship.

Reasons for Belief in Hype

1. Technological Optimism: At the time, there was widespread faith in technological advancements, particularly in the context of transportation. The Titanic was marketed as the pinnacle of maritime innovation, which likely led reporters and the public to adopt a "that could not happen here" mentality.

2. Public Relations and Marketing: The White Star Line invested heavily in promoting the Titanic as a symbol of luxury and safety. This marketing likely infiltrated media narratives, with reporters believing the company’s grand claims or feeling pressured to present news in a way that aligned with public expectations.

3. Lack of Precedents for Disaster Reporting: The sinking of ships was not frequent, and when emergencies did occur, they either went underreported or were framed as manageable crises. This historical context may have led journalists to expect that all would resolve favorably without adequately assessing the realities of maritime travel.

Modern Parallels of Hype and Reporting Bias

Today, hype and propaganda continue to influence media narratives. The coverage of technological advancements, political events, or public figures often includes elements of sensationalism that shape audience perceptions.

1. Social Media and Instantaneous Reporting: The rise of social media has exacerbated the speed at which news is disseminated, often sacrificing accuracy for immediacy. Reports on breaking news, such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks, can lead to conflicting information and misinterpretation of events, similar to the Titanic's situation.

2. Corporate Influence on News: Major news outlets may exhibit bias influenced by sponsorship or corporate relationships. For example, when covering events related to big tech companies (e.g., product launches or controversies), reports might underplay negative aspects due to relationships with those companies or fear of losing access to exclusive content.

3. Political Reporting: In the realm of politics, media outlets often align with specific ideologies, leading to biased reporting. For example, during election cycles, news coverage may favor certain candidates while downplaying others, creating a distorted view that affects public opinion.

In conclusion, the media bias seen in the 1912 article about the Titanic exemplifies how hype and public perception can shape reporting, often leading to incomplete or misleading narratives. As with historical events, contemporary news coverage continues to be highly influenced by various factors, including technological advancements, corporate interests, and societal expectations.