Disaster and Crisis Coverage - International News Safety Institute

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vulnerable to longer-term droughts, as is the United States. Climate change effects Extreme drought and flooding can be a consequence of “El Niño” and “La Niña,” natural weather patterns that may be intensified by climate change. Economic impact can be severe. In 1997-1998, Peru’s fishery exports dropped by 76 percent, according to the United National Environment Program. The Inter-American Development Bank and the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have launched a new program to help the region prepare for the impact of climate change. "Millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean are threatened by natural disasters that may worsen with climate change, including an increase in severe storms, reduced water from mountain glaciers, and the spread of diseases," says NCAR project manager Lawrence Buja. (http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09062657-ncar-teamswith-idb-help-latin-america-prepare-climate-change) Tsunamis Tidal waves may be rare in the region but Sarmiento says that does not mean there is no tsunami risk. He cites the 1960 case of Valdivia in Chile, where seismic activity touched off a tsunami that killed 4,000 people. Tropical storms and hurricanes Central America and the southern United States are particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. “Although building codes and infrastructure materials are now more resistant,” Sarmiento says, “we still have [a larger] exposed population.” Seismic events Earthquakes are likely in the region and they could be more devastating because urbanization has placed so much at risk. A major earthquake near Bogotá, for example, would affect a large population, the central government and the country’s economy. Disease outbreaks Heavily populated urban areas are particularly vulnerable to diseases like pandemic influenza, such as the 2009 outbreak of H1N1, the so-called “swine flu,” in Mexico. At the same time, an outbreak of dengue fever infected 50,000 people in Bolivia and more than 8,000 in Argentina. Sarmiento points to bird flu as a possibility that could have major repercussions, in a region where 40% of the animal protein consumed comes from poultry. The World Health Organization has a handbook for journalists on influenza pandemics, available online. (http:// www.newssafety.org/images/stories/pdf/safetyresource/guides/avianflu.pdf) International Center for Journalists 18
Disaster and Crisis Coverage For more background on natural disasters, check this CBS News Interactive: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/natural_disasters/html/framesource.html. 19
Page 1 and 2: Disaster and Crisis Coverage By Deb
Page 3 and 4: About the Authors Deborah Potter De
Page 5 and 6: About the International Center for
Page 7 and 8: Disaster and Crisis Coverage 4 Natu
Page 9 and 10: Disaster and Crisis Coverage Recogn
Page 11 and 12: Disaster and Crisis Coverage Also,
Page 13 and 14: Disaster and Crisis Coverage Organi
Page 15 and 16: Disaster and Crisis Coverage Prepar
Page 20 and 21: Newsroom start-up guide It’s amaz
Page 22 and 23: Newsroom back-up planning When a di
Page 24 and 25: Personal preparation A crisis, by d
Page 26 and 27: a hurricane, journalists should ens
Page 28 and 29: Information gathering Who will work
Page 30 and 31: Reporting a crisis Stay calm. Be cl
Page 32 and 33: ✦ Intelligence/national response:
Page 34 and 35: www.journalistsatrisk.org/safety_ti
Page 36 and 37: set up a blog “to preserve the st
Page 38 and 39: Journalism and trauma Introduction
Page 40 and 41: What is traumatic stress? A terribl
Page 42 and 43: ✦ Irritability ✦ Sleeplessness
Page 44 and 45: According to the American Psychiatr
Page 46 and 47: Tips for Dealing with Victims and S
Page 48 and 49: ✦ Respect the person’s efforts
Page 50 and 51: ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Do
Page 52 and 53: Coaching through crisis News manage
Page 54 and 55: Case Study: Editor reaches out Afte
Page 56 and 57: ✦ If distress continues past thre
Page 58 and 59: Notes International Center for Jour
Page 60: 1616 H Street, 3rd Floor Washington

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