6 Jeffrey Martin - Role of Mass Media in the Disaster Preparedness

Jeffrey Martin

Reference:  Seid-Aliyeva, D. E. (2006). Role of Mass Media in the Disaster Preparedness and Sustainable Development of Society. AIP Conference Proceedings, 825(1), 79-83. doi:10.1063/1.2190733 Retrieved from: http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uvu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=2e8c9ef6-0b1e-4e65-8ff7-7eb5d1c3ae13%40sessionmgr4&vid=2&hid=7

Theme:  Mass media serves a vital role in disaster preparation and resiliency.

Summary:  With the world’s population growing, and dense population centers growing more and more dense, mass media is playing an important role in disaster preparedness.  Mass media is able to educate and warn a virtually limitless number of people about disasters.  It is important to only disseminate reliable and verified information.  The media should present information in a way that promotes order, and clearly instructs people what to do.

·          After disaster occurs, any information related to the disaster should be checked thoroughly.

·          The incoming information has to be objective, true, exhaustive, and calm.

·          Train journalists on how to cover properly natural disasters in mass media.

·          Well-informed and

·          An educated population is a guarantor of healthy society and sustainable development.

·

Application: Disasters can strike anywhere and at any time.  When a disaster hits an area, one of the first things people do is turn on the television or radio for information and instruction on how to proceed or what do to.  It is important to forge good relationships with local media outlets before a disaster strikes.  As a PIO, it is imperative that they have your contact information.  Likewise, you must be available for contact at any time.  By forging these relationships before an emergency occurs, the media will know you and will trust the information you give them.  This will help to ensure that the correct information and instructions are broadcast to the public. 

6: Role of Mass Media in the Disaster Preparedness - Jeff Neal

Utah is susceptible to earthquakes - KSL.com

Reading Summary 6: Role of Mass Media in the Disaster Preparedness

Jeff Neal

Reference: Seid-Aliyeva, Dinara E.; Professor, Geology Institute, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; Role of Mass Media in the Disaster Preparedness and Sustainable Development of Society; March 23, 2006

Theme: The media has an important role in disaster preparedness.  They are the main resource to get information to the public and an informed public has a better chance of being prepared.

Summary: There is no place in the world that is safe from disaster, and this risk is increasing as cities continue to grow and developed.  Because of the rapid development many homes and buildings have been built in areas that are more at risk to disaster. In Utah we are susceptible to earthquakes and it has been predicted that Utah will have a major earthquake.  Because many of the existing buildings were built prior to earthquake building codes, many buildings have had to be improved or rebuilt.  The school districts have been rebuilding schools to meet the new codes. An equally important measure regarding disasters is being prepared.  The media has the responsibility of getting the information to the public that will help them prepare for a disaster.  The media controls the information.  FEMA and Emergency managers may develop the plan for disasters, but if the media doesn't help then the people at risk will not hear about the plan.  Many of the people who have been affected by disasters could have been helped if they were prepared.  The information on what to do and how to prepare in many cases does not reach the people that really need it.  The information that is shared with the public must be the truth and needs to be delivered in an exhaustive, and clam manner.  With the sharing of information the media can promote psychological mobilization and reduce social stain.  Much has been learned by the Caspian earthquake in 2000.  The people were not prepared for the earthquake and much of the reason was the lack of support from the media in delivering the information.

Application to the lesson topic: The media's role in preparing for a disaster is often overlooked in our emergency preparedness planning.  Media should be invited to the planning meetings and take part in the best methods to deliver the message to the public.  If we include the media then they will already be a part of the team when a disaster happens.  

Application to emergency services: The PIO is the media lesion with the media.  They must develop a good relationship with media members prior to an event.  This relationship will build a foundation of trust during a disaster, or incident. The PIO should also play a role in the delivery of information that help the public prepare for a disaster.

6- Informing the Public about Bio Terrorism Threats through the Popular T.V. Show 24 - Randy Rask

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.