Earthquake Hits Japan

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/11/japan-quake-saturday.html

Today, March 11th, 2011, an earthquake rating an 8.9 on the Richter scale hit Japan. The shifting of the world's tectonic plates has thus forth caused a huge effect within the surrounding waters, resulting in a tsunami as well as a whirlpool. Furthermore, the fail of cooling systems in two nuclear plants has caused a possible leak of radiation and a massive evacuation of the area. The Japanese government expects the death toll to top 1000, with many more missing.

I think this text tells the larger story of how our world as we know it is literally crumbling. Our global community is continually faced with challenge after challenge, whether it be reflected by society, nature, or culture. This text can easily be categorized under 'World News' and follows the general formula of third person within television news broadcasting. Codes and conventions used within news broadcasting can be devices such as photos, videos, and interviews in order to engage the consumer. Characters concerning the text are wholly realistic and individual. Also, though the characters may differ from each other power, race, gender, age, and class, we are all people. We all stand in the world together, and search teams from Canada, America, and enumerated other countries are sending their love and help in order to aid Japan as best as they can through this natural disaster. I share the ideology/value within this story that we as humans must put aside our differences help one another in our time of need.

This text came straight from CBC News Broadcasting Corporation, though news such as this report is currently being spread throughout the world alike in order to inform people of the disaster. The news text is distributed and sold to the public through the use of radio and television. Everyone profits through knowledge of the news, as this also aids people in donating money to corporations focused on aiding Japan. The text was produced using reporters, live footage, photos, and interviews. An expected running time for a typical news report limits it to a maximum of five minutes, but with such an enormous situation such as this most reports expand ten minutes.

This text appeals to me because it informs me of world issues and allows me to inform others of the huge tragedy as well. I dislike the event that has occurred, but am glad that I am able to remain globally aware through it. The intended target audience could honestly be any news consumer ranging from a young child to a senior citizen. This text appeals to audiences because it allows them to be knowing of the challenges our world is currently facing. People can consume this news by watching the TV, reading reports, hearing it on the radio, or even through talking to other people. I would not change this text to make it more enjoyable whatsoever.
Lastly, this text connects to the larger global story of how everyone, no matter who they are, depend on the media for their news. Whether it be through newspaper, television news, the Internet, or the radio, the media remains to be the dominating source of information to our global society.