Disaster and Crisis Coverage - International News Safety Institute

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Newsroom back-up planning When a disaster hits home, newsrooms may be crippled. But planning ahead can enable a news organization to keep broadcasting or publishing even if the newsroom is directly affected. Here are some lessons learned from newspapers, radio and television stations that have strained to cover disasters that left them without power or even destroyed their buildings. Back up everything! If the newsroom loses power, computers won’t work. Keep back up copies of computer files off site. Keep critically important information on paper and keep copies off site, as well. This includes contact information and the disaster plan itself. Keep at least one set of professional camera gear off-site at night and on weekends. Better yet, allow all photojournalists to take gear home with them. International Center for Journalists 22
Disaster and Crisis Coverage Equip journalists who do not have their own gear with inexpensive Flip-type cameras and make sure they know how to use them. Keep a copy of archives and critical files (news, advertising and financial) off-site. Save graphics, maps and other essential data to disk or portable hard drive and store them off site. If possible, have a back-up power system or generator with enough capacity to keep key newsroom systems running in case of a blackout. Have redundant communication systems. Land-line telephones may not work; mobile phone circuits may be overloaded. Text messages may get through when calls do not. Make sure not all mobile phones use the same service provider, in case of an outage. Maintain a two-way paging system, if possible, to use as a back-up. A satellite phone can be a life-saver. Load newsroom software in two off-site computers at two different locations. Designate staffers’ homes or other facilities as makeshift newsrooms in case power outages are widespread. Contact a local University or college to see if they have a computer lab the news organization can use if disaster strikes. Work out an arrangement in advance to use the facilities of another newspaper for publication or another broadcast station to distribute TV or radio signals in case of emergency. Discuss in advance the possibility of combining resources with competing news organizations to cover news conferences or other planned events in the aftermath of a disaster. Prepare to use social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, and mobile messaging to share news and information during a disaster, even if the main news outlet is unable to publish or broadcast. 23
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 18 and 19: vulnerable to longer-term droughts,
Page 20 and 21: Newsroom start-up guide It’s amaz
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

Disaster and Crisis Coverage - International News Safety Institute

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