Final project for JMA 240

1. Social Media’s Role in
Events of Tragedy
Final Project
Media & Society: JMA 240
April 23, 2013

2. Social Media’s Progress Over the
Years
Terrorist Attacks September 11, 2001:
During the 9/11 terrorist attacks almost no form of social
media was available. Information was given via phones and
through the news. Not everyone owned a cellphone back
then making it harder to communicate.
Hurricane Katrina August 23-30 2005:
Social media and technology were up and coming around
the time Hurricane Katrina. MySpace was one of the only
forms of social media. Had social media become as
developed as it is today, there could have been a much
different outcome for the victims in New Orleans.

3. Social Media’s Progress Over the
Years
Then Now
Since events like 9/11 and Seton Hill University’s
Hurricane Katrina, social Women's Lacrosse team was
media has become a source traveling to their game
to turn to for information. Saturday morning on March
16th when their bus veered
Sites like Facebook and off the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Twitter allow society to be killing head coach Kristina
informed about events that Quigley, her unborn baby and
are happening. Social media the bus driver. Support from
sites also can become an all over the country began to
amazing support system. pour in through social media
sites. A Facebook group
Take the tragic accident that called “Play 4 Seton Hill” was
happen this past March… created.

4. Boston
Marathon
Seton Hill Bombings:
University: technology
Hurricane Facebook and social
Sandy: group media led
Hurricane social created to to the
Katrina: media show
9/11: no discovery of
some social allowed support for
form of the
media, but people to the SHUW
social suspects
not contact LAX team
media effective family and
friends,
raise
awareness

17. An Instagram
page was also
created to show
tribute to the SHU
LAX team using
hashtags
#play4setonhill
and #onelaxfamily

19. Biff Rendar is a local photographer from Greensburg,
he shot this picture with the SHU team and Coach
Quigley in mind.

20. With the help of social media and online
tributes, a scholarship fund was started for
Coach Quigley’s son on the site
GoFundMe.com
Over $70,000 has been raised

21. Could social media have changed the
way we experienced 9/11 and
Hurricane Katrina?

24. image source: all 9/11 photos are from the 911digitalarchives.com

26. image source: fema.gov, all FEMA images are in the public domain

27. The recent events of
Hurricane Sandy and the
Boston Marathon
bombings have also
sparked social media
attention

28. Stars from the MTV show
Jersey Shore and other
celebrities participated in
the Restore the Shore
fundraiser to help give
back to those affected by
the Hurricane and used
social media to help raise
awareness for the cause

30. image source: northjersey.com

31. image source: public domain, examiner.com

32. Social media and technology played a large role in the recent events
that occurred this past week in the Boston Marathon bombings.
image source: AP, csmonitor.com

34. Cellphone usage of video and pictures
being taken at the marathon led to the
capture and death of the two suspected
for the attacks less than a week later.
image source: public domain, FBI

35. Social media’s role has
changed dramatically
since the days of 9/11
and Hurricane Katrina.

36. We now are able to
create support, raise
awareness and help find
wanted criminals with
the help of social media.