Randy Rask
Reference:
Murphy, Sheila; Huang, Grace; Cody, Michael; Berkowitz, Mandy; Beck, Vicki; Wilkin, Holley; Glik, Debora. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association , 2006 Annual Meeting, p1-29, 29p
Theme:
This article is about how health advocates, communication scholars, Fox executives, and the popular television show 24 worked together in a study to bring to light disaster preparedness. Through the television drama, different influences were incorporated on how to be prepared during a biochemical attack.
Summary:
- Post 9/11, the need to inform the public on how to be prepared for a terrorist threat has been brought to light. Several agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Homeland Security have made efforts to inform the public on how to properly be prepared for a disaster.
- Through surveys it has been proven that Americans are not informed enough or prepared adequately for such emergencies.
- If the public does not willingly seek out information on these matters, then other options should be tried. This is when "entertainment-education" was brought about for information about terrorist threats and how to be prepared for them.
- There are many advantages to using this method such as
-higher levels of interest on the topic among viewers
-repetition of content through multiple dialogues
-allowing the viewers to experience a range of emotional reactions which are often similar to the role models depicted in the drama.
- Season 3 of 24 is about a virus that a terrorist group had planned on using against the United States. Four of the episodes in this season were very important in this study on infectious diseases.
- The virus was released in a hotel and guests began to be infected with it. An infected man is found at an emergency care unit and then national health agencies quarantine the building to keep all of the people inside. During these pivotal episodes, seven outcomes are explored in the study.
1.) Severity of threat and susceptibility
2.) How infections are spread
3.) Beliefs and attitudes about quarantine and isolation
4.) Tracking a person
5.) Action steps during an emergency
6.) Will drama over failed quarantine make agencies appear less prepared?
7.) Interpersonal Dialogues
- After the season ended, a survey was posted online on the Fox network. 14,814 United States residents participated
- The survey included questions on matters such as the spread of viruses and steps taken if a person violated quarantine
- The study showed that those who viewed the entire season including the four key episodes had a greater knowledge of biochemical attacks and how viruses are spread along with how to quarantine and react in the situation.
Application to lesson topic:
I think that this applies to the lesson topic in a sort of obscure way, but it definitely still does. Although a T.V. drama such as 24 is not necessarily media, it can still be used in a positive way to get information out to the public on disaster preparedness. Most Americans are not prepared for disasters and the media has a hard time getting through to citizens on how to properly be prepared for a disaster. Using entertainment television rather than informative television, I think that many more viewers can be reached.
Application to Emergency Services:
Emergency service agencies need to be aware of how prepared people are during disasters. Whether the knowledge of disaster preparedness is received from the internet, news, or a dramatic television series, it is good to know how prepared residents are.
Interesting spin on the lesson. I think that we get stuck looking for academic examples to use, and forget about the creativity of some people. I think that this is similar to disaster drills we run, but in a much more dramatized sense.
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