This document discusses the role and responsibilities of media in reporting on disasters. It argues that media can help provide real-time information, communicate risk, issue early warnings, attract attention and aid, motivate public assistance, and bridge information between affected communities and the general public. This allows media to save lives. The document outlines roles for media before, during, and after disasters in informing the public, increasing accountability, and encouraging long-term recovery efforts. It stresses the importance of journalistic sensitivity and balancing information, images, quotes, and perspectives.

1. SHOULD YOU
REPORT ON
DISASTERS
Lafir SS Mohamed, Consortia Lead MCCR

2. Sensation ?
GOOD COVER story ?
How many will read ?

3. how
do you
LIKEthis
Man Kisses a
DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. WHAT IF WE
DON’T
REPORT ON
DISASTERS

5. What if we report on
disasters

6. • Academics
• Governments
70%>
Communities
Who is depended on
MEDIA

8. Governments

9. Researchers,
Students and
scientists

10. In general – You can
Provide REAL TIME INFORMATION
COMMUNICATE the RISK
Announce and APPEAL AIDEARLY warnings
Attract / divert the ATTENTION
of governments and public
Motivate general public to
help the victims
BRIDGE between AFFECTED
and GENERAL PUBLIC
Save LIVES

11. Can we still wait for
this ?????

12. RESPONSIBILITY
a choice

13. RESPONSIBILITY
Achieving

14. •The true cost of
disaster
•Before, during, after
•Accountability
•Sensitivity
14
Angles and content

15. -Lives?
-Property?
-Money?
-Development?
Disasters – what do they cost?

16. BEFORE DISASTER ROLE OF THE MEDIA

17. Disasters aren’t always crises
17
• Haiti 2010
– 7.0 earthquake
– 100,000-
150,000 dead
• Chile 2010
• 8.8 earthquake
• 525 dead

18. WHY?
18

19. •Lose trees, lose
protection
• Trees soak up
rainwater
• Trees hold soil
together
Deforestation

20. 20
Knowledge
• Preparation
• Prevents
• Problems

21. 21
Lack of
investment

22. “Act Now. Save Later”
22

23. • Since 2012, a million people
killed by disasters
• A trillion dollars have been lost.
• 1% of international aid spent on
minimizing impact of disasters
23
“Act Now. Save Later”

24. “Act Now. Save Later”
“Every dollar spent on risk
reduction saves $7 in emergency
response”
www.actnowsavelater.org
(UNDP, UNOCHA)
24

25. DRR - rarely reported
WHY?
25

26. Why?
•Not sexy
•Not visible
•Not well promoted
•Not often discussed
•Not understood
26

27. DURING AND AFTER
DISASTER ROLE OF THE MEDIA

28. Conclusions
•Responsibility to
report:
•To affected people
•To general public
•International
•Timeliness
•Accuracy
28

29. 29
Long-
term
recovery

30. “Six months later”
•Story cycle…
•Are things better or
worse?
•What has been done?
•What has not been
done?
30

31. “Accountability”
•Were there disaster
resilience measures?
•Were safeguards
sufficient?
•Were people
warned?
•Were people warned
in time?
31

32. “Accountability”
•Were people
evacuated? In time?
•Could people get
enough water, food,
medical treatment
and shelter?
•Who is responsible –
good and bad?
32

33. 33

34. Any questions so far?

35. •Language
•Quotes
•Images
•Balance
35
Journalistic Sensitivity

38. 38
Kevin Carter, Sudan 1993
• Pulitzer prize 1994
• Suicide three months later, aged 33

39. 39
“Victims”

40. 40
“Victims”

41. 41
“Victims”

42. Women
42

43. Children

44. Conclusions? 44

45. •Get the story!
•Increase pressure on
politicians, private sector
etc.
•Highlight failures to
prepare before the next
disaster
What can journalists achieve?

46. •Change public attitudes
•Encourage action
•Encourage help from
international community
•Get the story!
What can journalists achieve?

47. Further reading
47
http://www.unisdr.org/files/
20108_mediabook.pdf
emergencyjournalism.net/
disaster-reporting/

48. Any questions?
Lafir S. Mohamed
Consortium Manager – MCCR
Lafir.SSM@gmail.com