By Aafia Khatri
Last Wednesday, tragedy struck when a U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter collided mid-air with a commercial American Airlines plane approaching Reagan National Airport. All 67 people involved in the crash are now presumed dead, and recovery efforts are underway. As the world processes this loss, one story, in particular, stands out. One that not only represents grief but also reveals an ugly side of modern media.
Asra Hussain Raza was one of the victims. The 26-year-old was flying home to her husband, Hammad Raza, who eagerly waited to welcome her at the airport. Instead, he received devastating news of the plane crash. In the critical hours that followed, as he struggled to hold onto hope, the media would hound Hammad, with cameras being shoved into his face and reporters pressing for personal details.
In one particular video, a visibly shocked and disassociated Hammad is seen answering invasive questions from probing journalists while anxiously waiting for updates on his wife. They asked to see the last text exchange between him and Asra and demanded to know his raw, unfiltered emotions in real-time. In the days after, when the heartbreaking news arrived – that there were no survivors – they continued to follow Hammad, a grieving man whose sorrow had become public property. This isn’t journalism, its exploitation.
As a consequence of the 24-hour news cycle, this voyeuristic obsession of broadcasting people’s worst possible moments for views and engagement is rewarded. We have become so accustomed to consuming intimate details of people’s lives that people feel entitled to their emotions and reactions with no regard for privacy and boundaries. This isn’t an isolated issue in the media either.
Asking people for “storytimes” and harassing them for details when they share traumatic moments online echoes the same sentiment. Expecting people to go online and dissect their grief for an audience is disgusting. In moments of tragedy, when people should be treated with respect and dignity, the media showed a lack of empathy, respect, and proper etiquette in their pursuit of the “raw” and “real news.”
When did getting the “inside scoop” become more important than practicing humanity and having dignity?
Lost in the middle of this press circus was Hammad Raza and his grief. The media did not grant him privacy to grieve his wife in peace, nor did they offer him the comfort and respect every human is entitled to.
Instead, they turned his suffering into a news spectacle, and channels used him for clicks, views, and engagement. The public reaction wasn’t any better, with online users criticizing his composure, judging his reactions, and analyzing his responses while disregarding the unimaginable pain and loss he was feeling.
Asra Hussain Raza and Hammad Raza deserved more than to be reduced to a 2-minute video clip. This tragedy should remind us all to rethink how we engage with the media. Are we consuming news with compassion? Are we questioning how stories are exploited and profited off of?
We need to hold journalists and media outlets accountable for ethical reporting – at the end of the day, they cover the news the people want to see. In the end, a reminder that grief should never be a form of entertainment.
Asra was a loving wife and a beloved member of her community. In her husband’s words, “She gave a lot, but she had so much more to give. But if there was ever someone who took advantage of their 26 years of life, it was her.” In honor of her memory, her family has started a charity campaign to continue her kindness and generosity. If you would like to support, consider donating to @launchgood, “Sadaqah Jariyah for Asra.”
May Asra rest in peace, and may we honor her by advocating for a more ethical and respectful media space.
Aafia is a second-year Business Administration student at the University of Florida and is from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is a social coordinator for Rowdy Magazine, and in her free time, she enjoys reading and curating the perfect Pinterest boards for her current obsessions.
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