The media have been at their best in their coverage of the floods. They often are at times of disaster. But experience suggests that as the waters subside, and people move from immediate survival to stocktaking and rebuilding their lives, the coverage will become more scratchy.
The decline does not come from ill will. It suggests that in our culture we lack stories through which we can image intractable situations which require long endurance.
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The media have helped Australians distant from the events to appreciate the massive scale of the floods and the human reality of houses and farms overrun by the waters. They have told moving stories of quiet heroism, and of unselfish acceptance — 'we are lucky that we are not as badly affected as people elsewhere'.
They have mentioned the occasional scams and looting, and both highlighted and encouraged generosity which leads ordinary people to assist those affected by the floods. They have covered respectfully the presence of political leaders in affected areas, and helped them in their important role of showing the solidarity of the whole community in the face of catastrophe.
And they have raised the questions that subsequent enquiry must address.
This is what newspapers and other media do well. Their many reporters on the ground respond empathetically to the people whose suffering they record, and help us to see the events through their eyes. After the immediate crisis, however, the reporting and editing often becomes less helpful as they amplify discontents and disagreements, and seek out people to blame.
This focus is not helpful because it makes it difficult for people to come to terms with their loss and it undermines solidarity.
It is normal to experience depression, anger, denial and isolation in response to the violation of one's home and to financial loss and insecurity. These feelings need to be acknowledged and worked with. But in times of loss we need encouragement to look beyond our anger and sadness to the task of rebuilding our lives.
When the media focus on expressions of anger, treats delay in rebuilding as an outrage without looking at the broader picture, and try to identify people to blame for the severity of the floods, they encourage people to remain paralysed by grief and to break connections precisely at the time when they need to be strengthened.
But it is not easy for journalists. Our culture has many stories into which to fit floods and