Media coverage during the initial assessments, search and rescue increases increases the public awareness , however,  it can  negatively effects proper distribution of funds.

The coverage of major disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti Earthquake showed that media can have both positive and negative effects.

Media broadcasts first-hand information from the area of the disaster. Immediately after the disaster occurs, media could be invaluable during the initial assessments, search and rescue.

The positive impact of media is twofold: firstly, media raises people’s awareness on the disaster and, secondly, it helps to acquire the funding.

Although media helps citizens to make informed choices through objectively provided information, it can also have questionable effects. We frequently observe that as the first interest diminishes and public attention is fading away, .

Funds earmarked for a particular disaster force humanitarian organisations to spend according to the donors’ priorities and not necessarily to the highest ranking needs in the field [8]. For example, according to the UN data, funding for Haiti relief and recovery reached 43.86% of the estimated damage and the funding for the Pakistani flood relief and recovery raised 23.17% of the estimated damage, while the Chilean earthquake received only 0.23% of the damage and the funding for the Chinese amounted to less than 0.001% of the estimated disaster damage [9]. Media can help to prevent earmarked and unsolicited donations through providing accurate information that arises from coordination with humanitarian organisations.

Also political and cultural complexity may affect the ability of humanitarian organisations to raise funds. The Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan and the Pakistan Floods Relief and Early Recovery Response Plan received about 30% and 50% of the requested amounts respectively. According to OCHA, 8 months after the initial emergency appeal it is still at more than 30% underfunded [10]. According FTS OCHA, currently there are at least four underfunded humanitarian appeals: Palestinian territories 2011 (8%), Zimbabwe 2011 (11%) and West Africa 2011 (14%) and Niger 2011 (20%) [11]. In addition, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the grand total of active appeals is funded at 24%.

http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/centres/isic/humanitarian/the_media_and_disasters.cfm

Media coverage is another form of publication influencing observers/readers more or less (cf. Scientific publications)?

Yes, media coverage of natural disasters influences the  public awareness and perception. Simultaneously, it pressures the and related institutions to take timely correct steps and increase the funding for relief. Further, general public also extends support morally and financially. It happens, in this manner, in my country. In the same manner, it may also happen in other countries.

Today, public awareness and perception about any things mainly depends on media coverage. But in case of disasters, media plays a vital role for  gather supports on every spates.   

Media coverage during the initial assessments, search and rescue increases increases the public awareness , however,  it can  negatively effects proper distribution of funds.

The coverage of major disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2010 Haiti Earthquake showed that media can have both positive and negative effects.

Media broadcasts first-hand information from the area of the disaster. Immediately after the disaster occurs, media could be invaluable during the initial assessments, search and rescue.

The positive impact of media is twofold: firstly, media raises people’s awareness on the disaster and, secondly, it helps to acquire the funding.

Although media helps citizens to make informed choices through objectively provided information, it can also have questionable effects. We frequently observe that as the first interest diminishes and public attention is fading away, .

Funds earmarked for a particular disaster force humanitarian organisations to spend according to the donors’ priorities and not necessarily to the highest ranking needs in the field [8]. For example, according to the UN data, funding for Haiti relief and recovery reached 43.86% of the estimated damage and the funding for the Pakistani flood relief and recovery raised 23.17% of the estimated damage, while the Chilean earthquake received only 0.23% of the damage and the funding for the Chinese amounted to less than 0.001% of the estimated disaster damage [9]. Media can help to prevent earmarked and unsolicited donations through providing accurate information that arises from coordination with humanitarian organisations.

Also political and cultural complexity may affect the ability of humanitarian organisations to raise funds. The Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan and the Pakistan Floods Relief and Early Recovery Response Plan received about 30% and 50% of the requested amounts respectively. According to OCHA, 8 months after the initial emergency appeal it is still at more than 30% underfunded [10]. According FTS OCHA, currently there are at least four underfunded humanitarian appeals: Palestinian territories 2011 (8%), Zimbabwe 2011 (11%) and West Africa 2011 (14%) and Niger 2011 (20%) [11]. In addition, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the grand total of active appeals is funded at 24%.

http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/centres/isic/humanitarian/the_media_and_disasters.cfm

Reports on the horrifying disasters were globalized, instantaneous, interactive and available 24/7

New digital technology allowed news organizations to zap those dramatic videos, nearly all shot by people caught up in the disaster, around the world at the speed of light.” 

The intensity of this layered communication created a sense of humanitarian solidarity, motivating many to care about those in harm’s way. In the hours after the tsunami struck, people worldwide jammed phone lines and websites to give millions of dollars to charity appeals.

http://www.icmpa.umd.edu/assets/documents_studies/JIA_disaster_article.pdf

Here in Greece we have earthquakes more often than other countries. I have noticed that after a media storm before some decades, certain fundings were released to specific scientists. What was the result? Nothing at all, just a few more public servants...

You need to find reliable data, use google trends for this job

Hi Jesus;

I clearly understand from your statements that you need to learn research design.

Please study research design in order not to ask such elementary questions.

take care

irfan 

My simple understanding of this question is that, the interrogator or the questioner would like to know if it is okay for anyone contributes to better media coverage of natural disasters. I would prefer to put it that everyone must help the media with their coverage of natural disaster. This is because natural disasters are bound to affect us at anytime in one way or another. We also know that natural disasters or calamities manifest in different forms. For example, there those which are related geological factors such as: earthquakes, land or mudslides, rifts, volcanoes, avalanches, or tsunamis. Some natural disasters are attributed to biological factors such as: disease outbreaks (pandemics), desert locusts, or vermin (wild birds and animals). In addition, natural disasters are also caused by atmospheric conditions like: wind storms, rain storms, lightening, drought, flooding, wild bush or forest fires and others. We also know that the media is more than happy to receive news or information from anyone who may volunteer to do so. This means that anyone can send or transmit news about natural disasters to any media houses, reporters (journalists), or news editors at any time. Media houses are literally open for 24 hours a day throughout the year. Even when some activities are to be scaled down in media houses on special occasion, there are means of receiving and recording any incoming news items from non-staff. There are procedures involved. It is also important to know that media house have interactive websites with all key contact details of emails, skypes, telephones, faxes, face book, and other social media networks. Many media houses even pay individuals for their contributions. Besides, many media houses do offer call back and free-toll options to anyone who may wish to contact them on some specific issues. Let us also know that it is our civic or religious duty to provide useful information that may lead to safety or life saving of others, let alone our own lives. It is equally important to know that, the whole world is too big for any media house to field all the reporters or journalists. As a result, media houses rely very heavily on ordinary people for their sources of news, features, and other forms of natural disasters’ coverage. Below are some few ways that anyone may apply to help the media for the coverage of natural disasters:

• As a source: Anyone can voluntarily contribute information as a news sources to a media house. One may ask for anonymity, if necessary. Editors and journalists have professional responsibilities to grant this option on a special request.

• As a contributors: It is normal also for anyone to seek the status of a contributor or a stringer as this may called in some media houses.

• As a citizen journalist: It is encouraged that a civic person (a citizen) should be a source of information to the media. This is a norm with Community Radio (community media) which relies heavily on community volunteers. One can write special letters to the editor, special columns, and some contributors may do so in special cases. For example, a victim, an eye witness, a relative, a family member, an expert, a rescuer, or a local authority.

• As a freelance journalist: Media houses encourage interested individuals to work for them as freelance reporters or journalists. This is a norm in all media houses (print and electronic). One can be an environmental writer or a specialist in natural disasters.

• As a writer of articles: Individuals with talents in writing articles may also contact editors and obtain guidance for contributing articles. With time, one can become a regular writer.

• As a photo (video) specialist: It is possible to be a photo contributor. Photo (video), graphics, and news editors value this kind of contributions very much. It is necessary to see the policy.

• As an audio (sound bites) contributor: objective sound bites are always very useful if anyone can work with journalists, editors, or their media houses on the issue. One may be a key informant by virtue of one’s status or location in a disaster scene.

It is therefore vital for anyone to actively contribute to media coverage of natural disasters. This can be a regular contribution in form of public awareness, public education (non-formal or informal), school education curriculum from nursery schools to universities, policy debates, plays, songs, music, dance, drama, arts and science ideas.

So, right from early warning, disaster preparedness, management, resilience, and post-traumatic disaster management; everyone must be able take a humble contribution to the media coverage of natural disasters in any part of the world.

Dennis Wenger did some research in this area several years ago.  I think Mike Lindell may have also.  But, the one thing they don't mention is the incredible paucity of information given to people on how to protect themselves, their possessions, and what they can realistically expect from the government in the event of disaster.  The media and governments do a dismal job of informing people how to mitigate against losses, in those few moments when they have their attention for such an important issue.

This is a repeat  but reformatted submission of a previous opinion piece.

My simple understanding of this question is that, the interrogator or the questioner would like to know if it is okay for anyone contributes to better media coverage of natural disasters. I would prefer to put it that everyone must help the media with their coverage of natural disasters.

This is because natural disasters are bound to affect us at anytime in one way or another. We also know that natural disasters or calamities manifest in different forms. For example, there those which are related geological factors such as: earthquakes, land or mudslides, rifts, volcanoes, avalanches, or tsunamis. Some natural disasters are attributed to biological factors such as: disease outbreaks (pandemics), desert locusts, or vermin (wild birds and animals).

In addition, natural disasters are also caused by atmospheric conditions like: wind storms, rain storms, lightening, drought, flooding, wild bush or forest fires and others. We also know that the media is more than happy to receive news or information from anyone who may volunteer to do so.

This means that anyone can send or transmit news about natural disasters to any media houses, reporters (journalists), or news editors at any time. Media houses are literally open for 24 hours a day throughout the year. Even when some activities are to be scaled down in media houses on special occasion, there are means of receiving and recording any incoming news items from non-staff.

There are procedures involved. It is also important to know that media house have interactive websites with all key contact details of emails, skypes, telephones, faxes, face book, and other social media networks. Many media houses even pay individuals for their contributions.

Besides, many media houses do offer call back and free-toll options to anyone who may wish to contact them on some specific issues. Let us also know that it is our civic or religious duty to provide useful information that may lead to safety or life saving of others, let alone our own lives.

It is equally important to know that, the whole world is too big for any media house to field all the reporters or journalists. As a result, media houses rely very heavily on ordinary people for their sources of news, features, and other forms of natural disasters’ coverage. Below are some few ways that anyone may apply to help the media for the coverage of natural disasters:

• As a source: Anyone can voluntarily contribute information as a news sources to a media house. One may ask for anonymity, if necessary. Editors and journalists have professional responsibilities to grant this option on a special request.

• As a contributors: It is normal also for anyone to seek the status of a contributor or a stringer as this may called in some media houses.

• As a citizen journalist: It is encouraged that a civic person (a citizen) should be a source of information to the media. This is a norm with Community Radio (community media) which relies heavily on community volunteers. One can write special letters to the editor, special columns, and some contributors may do so in special cases. For example, a victim, an eye witness, a relative, a family member, an expert, a rescuer, or a local authority.

• As a freelance journalist: Media houses encourage interested individuals to work for them as freelance reporters or journalists. This is a norm in all media houses (print and electronic). One can be an environmental writer or a specialist in natural disasters.

• As a writer of articles: Individuals with talents in writing articles may also contact editors and obtain guidance for contributing articles. With time, one can become a regular writer.

• As a photo (video) specialist: It is possible to be a photo contributor. Photo (video), graphics, and news editors value this kind of contributions very much. It is necessary to see the policy.

• As an audio (sound bites) contributor: objective sound bites are always very useful if anyone can work with journalists, editors, or their media houses on the issue. One may be a key informant by virtue of one’s status or location in a disaster scene. It is therefore vital for anyone to actively contribute to media coverage of natural disasters.

This can be a regular contribution in form of public awareness, public education (non-formal or informal), school education curriculum from nursery schools to universities, policy debates, plays, songs, music, dance, drama, arts and science ideas.

So, right from early warning, disaster preparedness, management, resilience, and post-traumatic disaster management; everyone must be able take a humble contribution to the media coverage of natural disasters in any part of the world.

Hi, As a TV producer I covered the famine in Ethiopia for RTE (Irish TV) in 2000 if that is any help.  Paul

Hi, not sure about the funding aspect or correlations, but here's two references that - including their references - be of help. One is looking at the cross-cultural effects of disasters (Mexico, 1 flood site, one earthquake site, and Ecuador, 5 earthquake sites) coming to the conclusion that past experience may be an influence in it all : Hum.Nat.(2013)24:5-32. The other one looks at the role of the media after disasters (mind you, not natural ones here) with things like mass Psychogenic Illness etc: Epidemiologic Reviews, Vol.27.2005:107-114. Hope this is of help. Best, Johan

Hola Jesus,

If “coverage” is understood in this context in its broader sense: prevention and post- disasters included, you may find interesting to take a look at the following link:

http://www.cetaf.org/news/how-ready-are-we-case-natural-or-anthropic-disaster-call-earth-sciences-expertise

A project co-financed by the EU on education and best practices about disasters, risks, emergencies prevention, preparedness and self-protection.

The media used is a website including a database, web TV, e-learning, and a detailed list of  products.  The result of means of mass media communication, which may be of help to your exploration on how media covers natural disasters via prevention and best practices.

http://www.seeproject.eu/products-results/

And regarding your example, either affirmative or negative answers, there is certainly an effort in Science Communications to aware the population on these matters.

Best regards,

Silvia

http://www.seeproject.eu/products-results/

http://www.cetaf.org/news/how-ready-are-we-case-natural-or-anthropic-disaster-call-earth-sciences-expertise

I recommend you this book

Teresa Laporte: Cobertura de desastres naturales: configuración mediática de la imágen del Tercer Mundo en la revista. Trípodos : llenguatge, pensament, comunicació. (Abril 2000) 727-744 p.

Media have always been concerned with events and stories which have human impact. Natural disasters in some sense have the most impact as they destroy a large volume of human and material elements.

Media are the first to reach and rescue the victims of natural disasters, share updates and latest developments on the scene with the audience. They motivate the local population, who escaped luckily or suffered less, to engage in community rescue and relief activities. They invoke the attention of the international community to help the disaster-stricken population and motivate the domestic and foreign aid agencies to come forward with immediate aid allocations and practical help in rescue and relief operations.

http://www.ejbss.com/Data/Sites/1/vol2no1april2013/ejbss-1238-13-mediamythsandrealitiesinnaturaldisasters.pdf

HI Can we stop calling them natural disasters. I think you will find the terminology has changed as we now recognise these to be extreme weather events and the disaster is that we have abused our environment, build unsafely or are marginalizing groups with in our community. 

s

Please my edited book Japanese Journalism and the Japanese Newspaper (Teneo Press, 2014: www.teneopress.com/teneopress.cfm?template=4&bid=610) which has chapters on how the Japanese press handled the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. I have also published on press and the earthquake in journal papers in International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters (32(2): 275-296) and Keio Communication Review (35:35-50). My research on Japanese newspapers is based on a notion of revitalization journalism; please see my Research Gate page.