6 - Journalists and Emergency Managers Discuss Disaster Response - Mike Wayman

Reference:

Veil, S. R. (2012). Clearing the Air: Journalists and Emergency Managers Discuss Disaster Response. Journal Of Applied Communication Research,40(3), 289-306. doi:10.1080/00909882.2012.679672

Summary:

• Emergency managers and journalists share a goal of delivering vital information to the public in a disaster.
• Achieving this goal requires that emergency managers and journalists work together. This study examines the struggle between emergency managers and journalists to identify communication challenges and to provide suggestions for improving the emergency–media relationship.
• Communication issues that can affect the relationship and get in the way of communication include stereotypical judgments, a lack of trust, and unrealistic expectations.
• How each is identified and their perceived affiliations to larger government and media structures contribute to the lack of trust.
• The article suggests that when emergency managers and journalists are better informed about each others' professions, and when they develop stronger relationships within their own organizations, the quality and timeliness of information delivered to the public will improve.

Application to the lesson topic: When emergency services and the media work together the information the public needs is released efficiently and effectively.

Application to emergency services: Emergency services need to understand how the media works to be able to work with them. When they learn about the media, emergency services can make sure they deliver the most effective information the media will need and use. 

Nodaway County prosecutor asks for special prosecuting attorney to revie...

As you watch this press conference, think about suggestions you would give Prosecuting Attorney Bob Rice about handling future press conferences. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing a press conference outside. Add your comments below.

Click here to see the complete press conference. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57607907-504083/maryville-alleged-rape-special-prosecutor-requested-to-re-examine-mo-sexual-assault-case/

More details are available at this site: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/state-and-regional/nightmare-in-maryville-mo-teens-sexual-encounter-ignites-a-firestorm/article_fde5c17f-79f5-5019-bc7d-6e8413ecf91f.html

Note: I have known Bob for about 10 years and consider him and his family as friends. John Fisher

6 - Covering disasters - Joseph Galbraith

Joseph Galbraith

Lesson 6 Reading Summary

Reference: Hernandez., D. (1994). Covering disasters. Editor & Publisher, 127(41), 13.

Theme: A solid relationship between disaster mitigation agencies and the media should be maintained in order to prepare the community for a disaster.

Summary:

• Disasters are increasing in frequency. From 1963-1967 there were 16 disasters that killed 100 or more people.  From 1988-1992 there were 66 disasters that killed 100 or more people.

• Disaster mitigation professionals, scientists and the media must work to strengthen relations to provide quick and adequate information to the public.

• This information can empower the public to take action to increase their chances of survival.

• Although the media is the primary means of information dissemination, alternate means should be considered.

Information, and too often perform poorly on camera or in interviews.

• Opportunities should be taken to provide training to media representatives on disaster response, recovery and safety.

• Media representatives may find that if they work with disaster mitigation personnel, the quality and accuracy of reporting will be much better.

Application to the lesson topic:

This article identifies some great tips on how to strengthen relationships with the media. Mutual respect must be gained first and then these other tips can be worked on together.  If we show the media the benefits of this professional relationship they may be more willing to participate.

Application to emergency services:

Emergency Services PIO's can use these techniques to form good relations with media.  The PIO can also train all responders on how to deal with media representatives.

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. 

Reading Summary #2 From Mike Wayman

I seem to have 'issues' with the blog.

I haven't seen a score for summary #2 and so i thought I'd resend it just in case

I'm sorry, I'll keep trying to figur it out....I blame my age :-)

Mike Wayman

Ethics and Trauma: Lessons from media coverage of Black Saturday

Mike Wayman

Reference:

 Muller, Denis. February, 2010. Ethics and Trauma: Lessons from media coverage of Black Saturday. The Australian Journal of Rural Health, Vol 18(1). pp. 5-10.

Theme:

What lines do the media cross or not cross for a story.

Summary:

·       Covering Victoria's 'Black Saturday' bush fires in February 2009 traumatized many of the media people involved, and confronted them with many difficult ethical dilemmas." (Muller,1). 

·       The issue was how to treat the scene, the survivors and the pressure from editors, rivals, authorities and victims. 

·       The Center for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne used this experience as it's first research project.  They interviewed 28 people from all aspects of the media, including on scene reporters, studio anchors, camera men and photographers.  They found that even 3-6 months later many of those interviewed still had an emotional response to what they saw and experienced. 

·       The findings were broken down into five categories, access, treatment of people, maelstrom of pressure, deciding what to publish and emotional impact.

·        Under access the biggest thing addressed was how the media viewed and dealt with roadblocks. The answers to how they handled a roadblock was, find another way in, get past by chance, get past by deception, resist deception, accept the roadblock.  Overwhelmingly the media expressed their desire to get the story trumped unethically getting around the roadblock.   Another ethical dilemma was whether or not to go onto private property.  Again the media had a variety of answers to this ethical query.  Some didn't go on private property, others only when "a little" bit on, others went on until asked to leave, some were taken to the scene by residents and shown around.  

·       As for the treatment of the survivors and victims, there's no set in stone standard but most media held to the same moral code.  Prior consent was needed for identifiable individuals. People should be asked only once, refusal should be accepted, and people will not be badgered. Close-up intrusion on grief or moments of intimacy can and should be avoided.  It is a betrayal to of survivors and victims to not follow up and check on them.  Intrusion is unavoidable but it should be minimized.  (Muller, 7).  Through these interviews sometimes the media comes away with information that is sensitive and personnel.  But it's also newsworthy, so the moral dilemma is to share the story or to respect the privacy of those most affected. 

·       The maelstrom of pressure is always the driving force of any news outlet.  There are four main pressures on the media, editors, rivals, authorities, survivors and victims.   The news desk demands stories from survivors.  Rivals want the same.  There's also the problem with the authorities, they always know more than they are willing to share. 

·       Then the dilemma of what to report or not report as you hear from survivors in the depths of their despair and grief.  Then the issue was the impact of what was reported.  What is viewed as breaking news and may be a scoop for one news station, may have that station win the night, but at what cost? 

·       Referring to the beginning of the article when media was reported to still being affected 3-6 months later, that also applied to the survivors.  It's the responsibility of the media to publish or air cautiously.  The effects of what they say and show last and never go away.

 

 

Application to Lesson Topic

This article took one disaster but applied it across the board as questions all members of the media should be asking.  If they aren't willing to ask, then the people on the ground need to have these issues addressed and prepared for.

Application to Emergency Services:

This article didn't really answer any questions.  It seemed to ask more than answer.  But the application to emergency services is if an emergency services department takes the questions approached in this article and has a plan to address them, I think it will help in future emergencies to deal with the media.  These questions, if answered with the survivors and victims best interest in mind,  are a good blue print with how to deal with the inevitable media.