Covering Disasters - Reporter s Toolkit Media Workshop Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme CHAMP

1. Covering Disasters - Reporter’s ToolkitMedia WorkshopCaribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) By Terry Ally

2. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 2 Outline of Presentation What is hazard mitigation? Covering the disaster management beat Developing a media plan What to expect in the aftermath The “Wall Effect” After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up Use media kitUse media kit

3. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 3 Hazard Mitigation – what is it? What is a “hazard”? Page 8 Media Kit: “A hazard is an extreme, threatening event in the natural or man-made environment that adversely affects human life, property, or activity, or the ecosystem that supports them. A primary hazard disrupts human settlements. A secondary hazard occurs in the aftermath of a primary hazard and contributes to further suffering or loss”

4. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 4 Hazard Mitigation – what is it? What is “mitigation”? Page 9 Media Kit: “Structural and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation and technological* hazards”

5. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 5 Hazard Mitigation – what is it? Hence, hazard mitigation = Structural and non-structural measures taken to reduce losses from the impact of hazards whether natural of limit the adverse impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation and technological* hazards”

6. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 6 Hazard Mitigation – what is it? Hazards need not become disasters What is a “disaster”? Page 8 Media Kit: “A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources”

7. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 7 Hazard Mitigation – what is it? Hazards affecting Belize Hurricane Wind Coastal flooding Fresh water flooding Storm Surge Earthquake Landslide Tsunami Coastal flooding Technological Man-made

8. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 8 Covering the beat The role of the media Watchdog Information conduit News Links between Disaster Management Office and public Advertising Educational tool Features and analysis Investigative reporting

9. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 9 Covering the beat The business of the media To acquire and sell audiences at the highest price possible to advertisers

10. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 10 Covering the beat Understanding Disaster Management Know the subject matter Resources: Disaster Information Kit for Caribbean Media National and community emergency plans Family emergency plans Local disaster management officials

11. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 11 Developing a media plan Disaster Plan Do you have a disaster plan to be up and functioning next day if your media house is damaged, destroyed, or becomes inaccessible by a disaster? Of course, you must! Coverage Plan Do you have a plan for covering a disaster, hazard or incident? Do you have a disaster plan? Of course you do. Any editor or publisher worth his or her salt will have plans to be back in business the next day even if your business is destroyed, damaged, or becomes inaccessible. After all it is a business. It is how you make your living, so you must already have a plan in place therefore I won’t be covering that here. What I do want to cover is how to design a plan for covering a disaster, hazard, or incidentDo you have a disaster plan? Of course you do. Any editor or publisher worth his or her salt will have plans to be back in business the next day even if your business is destroyed, damaged, or becomes inaccessible. After all it is a business. It is how you make your living, so you must already have a plan in place therefore I won’t be covering that here. What I do want to cover is how to design a plan for covering a disaster, hazard, or incident

12. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 12 Developing a media plan Do you have a plan for covering a disaster? Do you have a plan for covering a disaster? Foolish question considering that a disaster gives us no warning, issues no press release or media advisory. It just happens – suddenly. What happens when it occurs outside of normal working hours. On a day like today – Saturday; at night; when you senior reporter is on vacation. What’s your plan? If a plane crashes, will you have to fight your way through the airport or airline’s telephone switch board battling with the hundreds or thousands or friends and relatives of the passengers and crew trying to get information or would you pull up you Contact Database on your computer or your address book and locate the private and direct telephone number for the people who can provide information? [CLICK] Planning keeps you ahead in the competitive 24-hour news environment and also improves your chances of producing great stories. [CLICK] List all hazards to which your country and its communities are vulnerable. Some communities may be affected by storm surge, others may be flood prone. Who do you contact in the event of each hazard? If there is an oil spill, you’d want to contact the Coast Guard but if there is an industrial fire you’d want to talk with the Fire Chief and the Hazard Materials experts Do you have a plan for covering a disaster? Foolish question considering that a disaster gives us no warning, issues no press release or media advisory. It just happens – suddenly. What happens when it occurs outside of normal working hours. On a day like today – Saturday; at night; when you senior reporter is on vacation. What’s your plan? If a plane crashes, will you have to fight your way through the airport or airline’s telephone switch board battling with the hundreds or thousands or friends and relatives of the passengers and crew trying to get information or would you pull up you Contact Database on your computer or your address book and locate the private and direct telephone number for the people who can provide information? [CLICK] Planning keeps you ahead in the competitive 24-hour news environment and also improves your chances of producing great stories. [CLICK] List all hazards to which your country and its communities are vulnerable. Some communities may be affected by storm surge, others may be flood prone. Who do you contact in the event of each hazard? If there is an oil spill, you’d want to contact the Coast Guard but if there is an industrial fire you’d want to talk with the Fire Chief and the Hazard Materials experts

13. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 13 Developing a media plan The Plan Assume that the worse will happen with your least-experienced staff on duty Outline who will be in charge until a senior editor arrives – this helps to quell confusion and lack of action

14. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 14 Developing a media plan The Plan FIRST order of business – verify … verify … verify If it seems likely that a disaster might have occurred, (information might be difficult to get) make it clear that it is okay to send out a reporter to the scene

15. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 15 Developing a media plan The Plan Produce and keep certain background articles on the particular hazard (see Disaster Information Kit for the Media) Remind ALL staff, that in the event of a disaster, hazard, or major incident that EVERYONE will be drafted into action – from Janitor to President

16. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 16 Developing a media plan The Plan Before rushing out, spend 15 minutes to think about your focus and story angles

17. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 17 What to expect during & after Inadequate information Just like you, disaster and emergency management officials are trying to ascertain information Death toll figures – very shaky at best in the initial stages REMEMBER, the disaster, hazard, or major incident DID NOT send out a press release. It just happened and so, the disaster management office and the emergency response teams are first trying to battle the event and then seek information, so details will be sketchy at first. The media LOVES to report how many people are dead or injured but a more credible media house would point out in early reports that death tools in major events are shaky at best and often widely divergent from different sources. Credit should go to CNN for their accurate coverage of Hurricane Ivan in Grenada. They established who was publishing the authoritative information on Grenada and used that figure in their reports. In fact, CNN was the media house to which CDERA gave few direct interviews because each time they called, all of us who could comment were in meeting but they used our website where we were running the daily CONFIRMED death toll figure. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some other media houses, both international and regional, who chose to run with reports from “well placed” sources quoting funeral home directors etc of bodies piling up. In the end, those “well placed” sources turn out not to be “reliable” or “accurate” sources.REMEMBER, the disaster, hazard, or major incident DID NOT send out a press release. It just happened and so, the disaster management office and the emergency response teams are first trying to battle the event and then seek information, so details will be sketchy at first. The media LOVES to report how many people are dead or injured but a more credible media house would point out in early reports that death tools in major events are shaky at best and often widely divergent from different sources. Credit should go to CNN for their accurate coverage of Hurricane Ivan in Grenada. They established who was publishing the authoritative information on Grenada and used that figure in their reports. In fact, CNN was the media house to which CDERA gave few direct interviews because each time they called, all of us who could comment were in meeting but they used our website where we were running the daily CONFIRMED death toll figure. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some other media houses, both international and regional, who chose to run with reports from “well placed” sources quoting funeral home directors etc of bodies piling up. In the end, those “well placed” sources turn out not to be “reliable” or “accurate” sources.

18. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 18 What to expect during & after Rumours …. rumours … rumours In situations of lack of information, rumours are abundant – be aware! Golden Rule: “If you do not know, check it out, and if you cannot find out, then leave it out”

19. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 19 What to expect during & after Looting and theft More often than not there is a security problem in the aftermath of a disaster – people loot, vandals destroy property, vehicles may be stolen or carjacked due to shortage of fuel and transportation As Paul Keens-Douglas says on the CD that you have – Looters are like wood ants, when the rain set up they grow wings and come out. People steal things they want but looters take things they do not want. As Hurricane Ivan approached Jamaica in 2004, the Government of Jamaica declared a state of emergency and put the army in charge. They had a licence to shoot if necessary and take whatever measures they considered necessary to maintain law and order.As Paul Keens-Douglas says on the CD that you have – Looters are like wood ants, when the rain set up they grow wings and come out. People steal things they want but looters take things they do not want. As Hurricane Ivan approached Jamaica in 2004, the Government of Jamaica declared a state of emergency and put the army in charge. They had a licence to shoot if necessary and take whatever measures they considered necessary to maintain law and order.

20. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 20 What to expect during & after Expect the worse No electricity – how will you write your stories Limited or no cellular or landline phone service Inaccessible roads No fuel being sold so lack of transport

21. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 21 What to expect during & after Journalists a First Responders Like police, firefighters, and paramedics, journalists often arrive on the scene minutes after a disaster strike. Like other first responders, journalists should be mindful of their own safety If possible, find out the nature of the situation before arriving on the scene. Are hazardous materials involved? First responders may have shared this information with each other but not with the media

22. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 22 What to expect during & after Journalists a First Responders After you arrive on the scene, find out who is in charge of the emergency-response operation. Track down the incident command post and go there. Find the Information Officer or Spokesperson

23. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 23 What to expect during & after Dealing with victims and survivors Disasters are people-centered

24. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 24 What to expect during & after Dealing with victims and survivors Journalists can help victims and survivors tell their stories in ways that are constructive and in ways that make for great journalism Sometimes you cannot avoid intruding on someone who is in grief. If you can’t postpone the contact remember to be sensitive and respectful in your approach. Treat victims with dignity and respect

25. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 25 What to expect during & after Dealing with victims and survivors Victims should be approached but allowed to say “no”. Leave your business card with them as they may wish to speak later. Those who agree to speak must understand who you are and what you’re doing. “Hello I am a reporter with ….. This is an interview for a story I’m writing. Your quotes and name will appear in tomorrow’s newspaper ….”

26. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 26 What to expect during & after Dealing with victims and survivors Next you may open with “I am sorry for your loss” or “Are you okay?” The answer will give you a sense of the person’s mental state and whether to proceed with the interview or not Little things count. Call victims to verify facts and quotes. Return photos you borrowed.

27. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 27 What to expect during & after Dealing with victims and survivors IMPORTANT! – Avoid eye-witness accounts by those still in shock and numb from the experience or by those who are openly grieving Organisations such as the Red Cross may be helpful in arranging contact with the victims who wish to speak with the media

28. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 28 The “Wall Effect” Like a tennis ball thrown against a wall, the victim's emotion, all that grief, can bounce back and absorb the person facing the victims -- the journalist. The effect causes the journalist to feel the victim's pain and loss. The isolation. The guilt feelings. The separation from family members or friends who have died in the past or the anxiety that family members may be lost in the future. Then comes the loss of sleep and the increased feelings of stress

29. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 29 The “Wall Effect” Tips to deal with the Wall Effect News Managers or Editors:  Ask and listen. Ask whether the staff or team member is OK or has problems. Then listen. Encourage stair members to talk to others who have faced similar situations.  Let reporters take breaks. Allow them time to get away from the coverage. To participate in a family gathering. To do a hobby. To attend a sports event. To simply get away. Also, some driven reporters must be ordered to take a day off.

30. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 30 The “Wall Effect” Tips to deal with the Wall Effect News Managers or Editors:  Know your reporters' limits. Allow them to even say "no." If they express concerns about a situation, listen -- and assign someone else if necessary.  Offer counseling. Many professions, including police and firefighters, offer debriefing sessions and counseling.  Offer continued training or reminders in stress and victims coverage. Do it occasionally during a year.

31. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 31 The “Wall Effect” Tips to deal with the Wall Effect Reporter or team member:  Know your limits. If you've been given a troublesome assignment, politely express your concerns to your supervisor. Tell the supervisor that you may not be the best person for the assignment. Explain why.  Take breaks for yourself. A few minutes or a few hours away from the situation may help relieve your stress. And eat: Healthy, if possible, but don't miss a breakfast, lunch or dinner. You need the break and you need the food for energy.

32. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 32 The “Wall Effect” Tips to deal with the Wall Effect Reporter or team member:  Find someone who is a sensitive listener. It can be an editor or a peer; but you must trust that the listener will not pass judgment on you. Perhaps it is someone who has faced a similar experience.  Learn how to deal with your stress.  Attend functions that teach you about how to deal with stress or with victims coverage. Oftentimes, you can hear advice that will help you deal with your situation.  Attend a church, find a hobby or exercise -- or all three. These can be effective for your mental and physical well-being. If your problems become overwhelming, seek counseling from a professional.

33. 33 The “Wall Effect”

34. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 34 After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up In the emergency phase, the “Who, What, Where, and When” aspects of the story would be covered After the emergency phase, now is time to turn attention to “Why and How” Could the losses from the disaster or hazard be minimised through hazard mitigation?

35. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 35 After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up Example of impact as a result of not using Hazard Mitigation measures Port Zante, St Kitts and Nevis Hurricane Georges struck St Kitts and Nevis in September 1998 and damaged Port Zante Port Zante was constructed for US$22.5 m

36. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 36 After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up Example of impact as a result of not using Hazard Mitigation measures Port Zante, St Kitts and Nevis Hurricane Georges damage was estimated at US$10.1 m – insurance payout was US$8.1 m Reconstruction started shortly afterwards

37. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 37 After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up Example of impact as a result of not using Hazard Mitigation measures Port Zante, St Kitts and Nevis Hurricane Lenny came along in November 1999. Damage was estimated at US$14.1 m – insurance payout was US$11.7 m Total cost of construction and reconstruction eventually was US$32.9 m

38. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 38 After the emergency phase – analysis & follow-up Example of impact as a result of not using Hazard Mitigation measures Port Zante, St Kitts and Nevis It was reconstructed after four years During that period the national economy country loss vital revenue Staff were out of work

39. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 39 The role of the media Watchdog Information Education Understanding Hazard Mitigation and Safer Building can lead to great journalism on disaster management

40. Covering Disasters - Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) 40 The end!