Television and other media's coverage of the tsunami disaster had its share of biases, distortions and controversies.

As people in the hardest hit Asian countries slowly recovered from the initial shock, they began to pay more attention to these anomalies. While the affected countries were preoccupied with three R's -- relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction -- it appeared that some sections of the media are obsessed with their own two R's -- ratings and revenue.

Charges of 'helicopter journalism' have been made. Questions are being asked whether some of the more gruesome images should have been repeated on television seemingly endlessly. Inevitable comparisons have been with the restraint with which the same global media networks covered the aftermath of terrorist attacks in New York on September 11, 2001.

The insensitive conduct of some western media outlets was demonstrated in how they covered the impact on nationals from their country of origin. In contrast, the plight of a vast majority of Asian nationals was reduced to providing a backdrop against which reporting was taking place.

Leading commentator Jeremy Seabrook echoed this sentiment when he wrote in the UK's Guardian newspaper:  "For the western media, it was clear that their lives have a different order of importance from those that have died in thousands, but have no known biography, and, apparently, no intelligible tongue in which to express their feelings."

Excesses and indiscretions were not confined to the western media. Many examples can be cited on how Asian broadcast networks -- including those in the affected countries -- demonstrated their own prejudices and deficiencies.

In Sri Lanka, for example, it took two full days before the local media adequately reported the extent of damage in the north and east areas that were hardest hit. Those are on the opposite side of the island from the capital where all media are concentrated.

In India, which has experienced a recent explosion of 24/7 news channels, initial coverage left many viewers dazed, confused or alarmed. This prompted the Indian Express newspaper to call for better media training and greater specialisation among television journalists. "Expertise may help minimise the hysteria of less informed reporting," it noted.