Disaster Communications in a Changing Media World

by Haddow, George D.; Haddow, Kim S.

• ISBN13: 9781856175548
• ISBN10: 1856175545
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-10-29
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann

Summary

Communications is key to the success of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Accurate information disseminated to the general public, to elected officials and community leaders, and to the media reduces risk, saves lives and property, and speeds recovery. The ability to communicate is no longer an afterthought or a luxury; timely communication is now as important as logistics or the pre-deployment of materials. Planning and controlling the flow of information before, during and after a disaster will define your organization's credibility, trustworthiness, authority, and effectiveness. The emergence of new media like the internet, e-mail, blogs, text messaging, cell phone photos, and the increasing role played by "first informers"-- witnesses who now have the ability to transmit information immediately from the event--are redefining the roles of government and media. The government's historical role as gatekeeper is now an anachronism. Traditional media's role as the sole conduit of reliable and officially-sanctioned information has been eclipsed by the advent of new media. The tools and rules of communications are evolving and disaster communications must evolve to capitalize on these changes and exploit the opportunities they provide. Bloggers have the potential either to add to the chaos during a crisis, or to help convey accurate data and report on local conditions. Disaster communications must incorporate a way to manage their impact and if possible use them for the common good. Finally, even though the means to the end are evolving, the goals, the values, and the underlying principles of effective disaster communication-- the need for transparency, increased accessibility, trustworthiness and reliability, and to create partnerships with the media--have not changed and need to be embraced along with the practical ability to convey information effectively. * Applies the principles of emergency management to communications during a disaster * Covers terrorist incidents, accidents, and natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes * Shows how to use blogs, text messages, and cell phone cameras as well as government channels and traditional media to communicate during a crisis

Table of Contents

Communications: The Critical Function Essential to success

Best case examples where effective communications clearly contributed to the success of the operation

Northridge for response, Napa for mitigation

Worst case examples where inadequate and inept communications planning and implementation costs lives, damaged response, or delayed recovery

Hurricane Katrina, the Loma Prieta earthquake

Disaster communications in a changing media world

Definition of new media, examples of use in disasters

Katrina, July 7 London bombing, Examples of changing role of traditional media and government --9/11

The Principles of a successful communications strategy Basic assumptions and examples of each

Transparency

Accuracy

Accessibility

Customer focus

Leadership commitment

Communications core to planning

Partnership role with media

Need to create emotional connection with audience, be trusted

Rudy Giuliani on September 11, Chief Moose in the DC sniper incident

Application of principles to all four phases of disaster

Mitigation

Preparedness

Response

Recovery

The challenges of communicating risk

Identification of audiences

Public

Elected officials and community leaders

Partners - public health, first responders, volunteers

Media

Creating infrastructure

Staffing

Tools and technologies

Working with the media

How a newsroom works, staffing, deadlines

How the internet works

Experts, visuals, first hand accounts, constancy of information

New trends in informational dispersal Challenges of having the truth heard in a cluttered, chaotic world where everyone is a reporter

Turning that trend to your advantage

Resources

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.