community-based disaster risk management and the media media kit

chapter 2. media and disaster risk management
functions. One of these functions relate to disaster risk management,
where the media plays a pivotal role in saving lives.
Disaster Risk Communication and the Media
The media’s convergence with disaster risk management derives from
the need to inform, educate and empower communities with relevant
knowledge for infl uencing public action and policy towards disaster
preparedness and mitigation. Through disaster risk communication, the
media has been given an important role which contributes to reducing
the loss to life and property arising from disasters.
First of all, disaster risk communication is at the heart of the disaster risk
management process. Disaster risk communication refers to the dialogue
process through which multiple stakeholders (government offi cials,
NGOs, UN, private sector, and communities) identify and analyze risks,
and identify and implement solutions to reduce those risks. All disaster
risk management actions including risk identifi cation, risk analysis, risk
prioritization, risk treatment and monitoring and evaluation, involves
communication among multiple stakeholders. Various stakeholders
have different opinions about the nature of risks, the proposed
solutions and their implementation. This means discussing about risks,
the sources, vulnerabilities, measures for vulnerability reduction, and
costs and implementation arrangements. Through this process these
stakeholders are able to share their concerns and opinions, understand
each others’ perspective and identify commonly agreed solutions,
which are acceptable to everybody. This communication is referred to
as “disaster risk communication.”
The communication amongst various stakeholders happens through
different means. They include formally organized face to face meetings,
workshops, conferences, seminars, etc. Communication among
stakeholders often occurs informally through news items, analysis
published in the media, coverage of disaster events and coverage
of forums on disaster risk management. The media therefore, has a
very important role in facilitating communication among stakeholders
and infl uencing the opinions of different stakeholders for disaster risk
management.
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