Television was the key medium in conveying news of the horrific
terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11 to viewers
in Hong Kong.
That the devastation took place during primetime viewing hours in the
city explains its high use among respondents, according to research
company NFO WorldGroup-Hong Kong.
Ninety per cent of 557 respondents polled by NFO learned of the
devastation through television against just four per cent who heard of
the tragedy through other mediums, including radio and the internet. Six
per cent learned of the attacks through messages left by friends,
relatives or a colleague.
However, in the days after the carnage, respondents turned to newspapers
to monitor the disaster. Despite the rolling format coverage by the
major news channels, which dropped advertising for several days after
the disaster, newspapers surpassed television as the main source of
news. Sixty-six of respondents monitored the unfolding tragedy through
newspapers against 55 per cent who kept up with developments through
television, according to NFO.
Internet usage also soared, with 14 per cent of respondents using the
web to receive news updates of the attacks, while radio was used by nine
per cent of respondents.
