Twitter, Crisis, & Authority: The Role of @QPSMedia during the Queensland Floods

Panel paper – IR 12.0 2011
Twitter, Crisis, & Authority: The role of @QPSMedia during the Queensland floods
Frances Shaw
Kate Crawford
Jean Burgess
Axel Bruns

Context - Toowoomba
December 2010 – January 2011
Acute period – 10-12th January
Toowoomba & Lockyer Valley area
State capital Brisbane

Context – Lockyer Valley

Context – Brisbane & Ipswich
December 2010 – January 2011
Acute period – 10-12th January
Toowoomba & Lockyer Valley area
State capital Brisbane

Social media
#qldfloods
@QPSMedia

Typology
Information
Advice/Instructions
Situational Information
Requests for Information (Crowd-sourcing)

Typology
Media sharing
News media updates
Multimedia
Help & Fundraising
Help
Fundraising

Typology
Direct Experience
Personal narrative and eyewitness reports
Reactions & discussion
Adjunctive discussion
Personal reaction
Thanks / praise and gratitude
Support
Meta-analysis

Types of Communication

Changing patterns...
9-10th January
Situational information
Evacuation information
RT @QPSmedia: Anyone living near Lockyer creek should IMMEDIATELY evacuate to higher ground #thebigwet #qldfloods

11th January
Advice
Mythbusting
RT @QPSmedia: Please remember your elderly and infirm neighbours as this flooding crisis continues #thebigwet #qldfloods

11th January
Advice
Mythbusting
RT @QPSmedia: Do you know where your children are? DON'T let children play in flood waters! #QldFloods #TheBigWet http://fb.me/RNXoBrgg

12th January
RT @QPSmedia please stop sightseeing along Kingsford Smith Drive. Water rising quickly you'll be stranded
13th January
RT @QPSmedia: Do NOT spread rumours. The 2-hourly media conferences have correct info. Wivenhoe dam is ABSOLUTELY safe #QldFloods #TheBigWet

14th January
RT @QPSmedia: Reminder – looting carries a double penalty to usual stealing charges (maximum ten years imprisonment) #QldFloods #TheBigWet
RT @QPSmedia: Beware of scams: there are reports of fake flood donation collections and charities. #qldfloods #thebigwet

Tweet resonance

Rumour management
” mythbusting” series
RT @QPSmedia: Flood myth buster #6: Brisbane CBD is NOT being evacuated
RT @QPSmedia: Flood myth buster #7: public transport is not closing down at 2pm in the Brisbane CBD

Rumour management
From #qldfloods
RT @ibeau: All public transport in the CBD has been stopped #qldfloods #thebigwet
RT @couriermail: Unconfirmed reports Central Station in Brisbane closing at 2pm today. Advise to leave CBD. #qldfloods

Rumour management
Community co-operation
a gentle reminder that there are lots of speculation getting around twitter re #qldfloods @QPSmedia is def worth checking for accuracy
In order to prevent mistruths and speculation follow @qpsmedia and @612brisbane #qldfloods

Thanks & Gratitude
Have to say QLD Police (@QPSmedia) are doing a stellar job using social channels to keep everyone updated
Good job by @QPSmedia and media outlets. This is what twitter is for
Show 'em how its done Qld Police @QPSMedia Excellent use of Social Media in #qldfloods

Thanks & Gratitude
@QPSmedia Thank you for using twitter to keep everyone up to date. And for clearing up all the misinformation so quickly #qldfloods
Follow @QPSmedia for correct and constant information. Especially for those directly affected. Doing a great job. #qldfloods
Others have said it ill echo.. @qpsmedia was/is a phenomenal success at delivering timely and verified info during the #qldfloods

Summary of themes
Rumour management
Thanks, praise, and gratitude

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Twitter, Crisis, & Authority: The Role of @QPSMedia during the Queensland Floods

by Axel Bruns

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