Cameras, lenses and screens are all part of journalism and media. As reporters and journalists play an important part in this story, there are several mentions of these items linked to the media.

The first time cameras are mentioned in this story is at the beginning. The reader learns that television cameras were filming the tragic events following the eruption of a volcano, thus spreading the horrific news across the country. We read that particularly the image of the girl trapped by a mudslide is shown frequently on the nation’s television screens. This is also the first time that the word “screens” is mentioned.

Later on, we learn that the narrator watches footage filmed by the assistant’s camera on a screen. The story also explores how the main protagonist of the story, Rolf, uses his camera to get the best possible shots: “his camera zoomed in.” In addition to screens used to broadcast the story, the narrator also uses television screens in order to feel closer to Rolf during his absence. We learn that the narrator felt “near (Rolf's) world” when watching footage on the premises of “National Television”.

As the story progresses, Rolf moves more and more away from his role as a reporter, as the events are beginning to affect him more and more on a personal level: “he had completely forgotten the camera; he could not look at the girl through a lens any longer.” At this point of the story, the author uses a lot of detail to describe the equipment used by other journalists. This attention to detail shows how, in stark contrast to Rolf, these other journalists are only interested in sensationalism and totally lack empathy.