1. Resilient Media for Effective Disaster Reporting
Kartik Lokhande
Chief Reporter
THE HITAVADA

2. Disaster and Information
During disasters, people need information. In fact, people need information as much as water, food, medicine, or shelter.
(World Disasters Report 2005)
The role of media becomes all the more important in dissemination of information during disaster situations, as it shapes public opinion as well as public response.

3. Disasters
Disasters could be natural or man-made and both cause loss of life as well as property
Loss of morale and after-incident trauma are more damaging factors as far as recovery from a disaster is concerned
Here, media plays a vital role

4. World Disasters Report – 2005
This report was dedicated to ‘The role of information in disasters’. It makes some important observations:
The flow of information throughout the disaster cycle is crucial for effective humanitarian operations.
Information can save lives, livelihoods, and resources.

5. Lack of information can make people victims of disaster.
Information may be the only form of disaster preparedness that the most vulnerable can afford.
The right kind of information leads to a deeper understanding of needs and ways to respond.
The wrong information can lead to inappropriate, even dangerous interventions.
Lack of information can make people victims of disaster.
(Source:

6. Disasters in India

7. Major terror attacks in India between 2003 and 2008

8. Role of Media in Disasters
Disaster preparedness
Shaping public response to disaster
Catalyzing the process of recovery from disaster
Disaster mitigation

9. CYCLONE PHAILIN
In this case, there was a wonderful coordination between Media as well as the Government agencies
All types of media had access to information and there was early warning
showed advancement of the cyclone using satellite images
All this helped in better disaster preparedness, which in turn shaped public response to disaster

11. INDIAN TSUNAMI
A disaster of a mammoth scale in terms of destruction
Recovery was a huge challenge
Apart from presenting stories of destruction, media also highlighted stories of human triumph, resilience, and aid pouring in from Government as well as private agencies from India and abroad

12. Media coverage played a key role in recovery
Media coverage played a key role in recovery. As Parvita, a widow from Tamil Nadu, said:
“I don’t want to see another cooking pot – I have as many as I will ever need. I want to know where my family is going to be living in one month’s time!”
Survivors needed clear, hard facts about their future, and media worked in this direction.

13. 26/11 TERROR ATTACKS - MUMBAI
Media, too, was in shock and not prepared initially. There were problems like choking of communication network, many mediamen could not talk to their family members.
Media coverage highlighted loss of life, stories of courage, collective humanitarian gesture of Indians, prayers and vigils, brave fight put up by police, military, and other security agencies.

14. Media highlighted lapses with an intention to bring about reforms in security thinking.
Focus was also on holding people-in-power accountable so that they became more alert in future.
Emphasis was laid on modernization of police force, educating people about terror threats and helping them prepare better.

15. PROBLEM AREAS However, there were lessons to be learnt for media.
Competitive reporting in electronic media led to ‘live’ coverage, which also kept the handlers of terrorists abreast with what was happening in Mumbai during anti-terrorist operations. Some lives were lost because of this. Finally, damaging ‘live’ coverage had to be stopped.

16. LIMITATIONS
The coverage of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai underlined the need for proper training to media while covering man-made disasters like terror attacks.
It also brought to fore compromise made with national security by over-enthusiastic mediamen in the rat race of giving competitive ‘live’ coverage.

17. UTTARAKHAND FLOODS-2013

18. MEDIA COVERAGE
Media coverage witnessed a new low with an electronic media person Narayan Pargaien giving a ‘piece to camera’ squatted on shoulder of a survivor. He was sacked.
There were positive aspects also of media coverage. Media from across the country kept track of pilgrims rescued and highlighted stories of rescue operations by the Army, NDRF, IAF, Police and other agencies.

19. Media Requirements Advance information sharing
Single-point source of authentic information
Regular updates before and after the natural disasters
Access to designated persons during man-made disasters including terror attacks
Appreciation will encourage media to do right things during disaster situations

20. THE ISSUES
In the era of convergence, media has become more business-like and hence more competitive. Race damages quality of coverage.
Media has changed from being an empowered source of public information to a tool of disseminating ‘desired’ information due to advent of ‘media management’.
Media lacks serious training in coverage of disaster situations, handling of details, collation and filtration of confirmed and unconfirmed information during disaster situations, Do’s and Don’t s.
Media sensitization workshops must be conducted.
Disaster management plan for media organizations.