Disaster Communications in a Changing Media World

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

溝通是災害減災、準備、應對和恢復成功的關鍵。準確的信息傳播給公眾、選舉官員和社區領導者以及媒體可以減少風險，挽救生命和財產，並加快恢復速度。溝通能力不再是事後的考慮或奢侈品；及時的溝通現在和物流或材料的預部署一樣重要。在災難發生前、期間和之後規劃和控制信息流將決定組織的可信度、可靠性、權威性和效果。

新媒體的出現，如互聯網、電子郵件、博客、短信、手機照片以及“首席通知者”的作用日益增大——這些目擊者現在有能力立即從事件中傳遞信息——正在重新定義政府和媒體的角色。

政府作為門戶的歷史角色現在已經過時。傳統媒體作為可靠和官方認可信息的唯一傳輸渠道的角色已被新媒體的出現所取代。溝通的工具和規則正在演變，災難溝通必須隨著這些變化發展，並利用它們提供的機會。博客作者有可能在危機期間加劇混亂，也有可能幫助傳達準確的數據並報告當地情況。災難溝通必須納入一種管理其影響並在可能的情況下利用它們造福大眾的方式。

最後，儘管達到目標的手段在不斷演變，但有效的災難溝通的目標、價值觀和基本原則——透明度的需求、增加可訪問性、可靠性和可信度以及與媒體建立合作夥伴關係——並未改變，需要與有效傳達信息的實際能力一起接受。

* 將緊急管理原則應用於災難期間的溝通
* 包括恐怖事件、事故和自然災害，如颶風和地震
* 展示如何使用博客、短信和手機相機以及政府渠道和傳統媒體在危機期間進行溝通