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1st National Course on Public Health Emergency Management

12 – 23 March 2011. Muscat, Oman

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Maryam Khalfan

Senior Reporter – Oman Daily ObserverPresents

Communications and Media Relations in Emergencies

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Areas of Discussions

Demands in Multi-organizational response

Communication gaps

Significance of media in emergencies

Suggestions

Advisory on dealing with media.

Principles of preparedness

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Types of Media & their diverse needs of information:

Types of Media & Their Needs

Local media Vs International media

Television.

Print Media (newspapers, magazines).

Radio

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Information-Seeking Behavior:

General Types of Information Sought:

Casualty information

Property damage

Response and relief actions.

Causes of the disaster.

+ Other characteristics of the crisis.

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DISASTERS ARE MEDIA EVENT

Reporters are coordinators!

Why

- Tasked to report objectively & honesty in times of conflicts, disasters, problems and help find solutions and actions etc.

- For transmitting warnings of likely natural disasters like: floods, Tsunami’s and disease outbreak.

e.g Gonu, Phet incidents – the media were 1st source of link between respondents and public to define extent of emergency situation.

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Advantages of Media in Disaster :

- Convey instructions to public on how to lessen or deal with effects of a disaster.

- Help educate public to prepare for disasters.

- Motivate donations & assistance to stricken areas to get access to supplies.

- Help speed recovery.

- Draw attention to natural and technological hazards & stimulates public support for actions to prevent or alleviate

disasters .

-

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.

(Continuation) Advantages

-Help to overcome public & governmental indifference by drawing attention to disaster risks & inadequate preparedness.

- Help reduce number of inquiries from loved ones by providing accurate information about the severity and scope of disaster by publicizing lists of survivors.

- Used for point-to-point and person-to-person communications to speed up rescue and recovery.

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Principles of Preparation and Co-ordination:

PRINCIPLE 1

Priority in developing a reasonable, effective and constructive work relationship between

emergency respondents & media in disasters.

PRINCIPLE 2

Sharing data with perspective of “command post” to facilitate concern of central source

of information in disasters.

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PRINCIPLE 3

Facilitate advanced information to general questionnaires posed by

reporters in disasters.

PRINCIPLE 4

Spread newsworthy information among all types of media organizations.

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PRINCIPLE 5

‘Do No Harm’ Media withhold newsworthy disaster stories if it feels would it be

harmful to the public.

PRINCIPLE 6

Respondents should have potential to deal & translate technical terms with all

types of media in times of disaster.

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Advisory on Dealing With Media:

At times it is justifiable to hold on sensitive details with media, but ensure to ‘state the fact’ why information is withheld and the

possibilities of releasing it.

OR

If the media have obtained information that could be risky for publicity, do not hesitate to request them to hold back. Likewise, explain

why it shouldn’t be reported. Promise to notify when ever it is safe for release.

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)continuation -- (Advisory

Admit to problems and mistakes if they exist. Why?

Concealing important errors may leak out & lead to more harm than good. But, it doesn’t mean that respondents should

oblige to cast information in its worst possible incident.

If troubles or mistakes have been made, point out +ve efforts of correction &

explain strategic solution of management.

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)continuation -- (Advisory

Stick to the facts. Don't describe the situation as any better or worse than it actually is.

Avoid statement exaggeration or to grab

undue credit or manipulate a story to create a favorable impression of your office or

agency.

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continuation) – Summery

Disaster respondent tend to work on their own by not sharing information.

When media warning messages are clearly

illustrated both authoritatively and consistently, they can be very effective in stimulating appropriate protective activity.

Interactive Radio & TV communication are immediate approach of initial warning & contact with public about an impending

disaster.

In disasters, the media conveys important and useful information for governments

respondents & relief wokers.

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SUMMARY

Media behavior in disasters is, to a extent significant & predictable. Because of this, proper public

information procedures are likely to reduce the disruption caused by media

demands.

Need for a free press is an important part of communication, yet, disaster

managers often feel it is wastage sparing time to deal with reporters.

Establishment of actions of plan for an effective media relations in disasters is not given high priority. Instead, preparedness

merely consists of assigning responsibility to a respondent to hand out press releases & to

talk to reporters that show up.

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Recomendations

- Need for Media Planning

Educate both respondents & media on all sorts emergency disaster management and

reporting.

- Ability of Media to Survive and Function

- Involve Media in Planning by:

a) Having them represented on board of planners.

b) Active participation in Media Related aspectsc) Initiate strategies with the Media

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Case Scenario

In an alarming situation, cyclone Gonu has hit the entire city and suburbs of Muscat governorate mostly affecting

the coastal area of Quriyat. Flash floods washed away bridges. The

entire area is waterlogged. Huge rocks and mudslides have blocked the only

road liking the city and its mountainous suburbs to safety. There

is no water, electricity, food etc .

Thank you