1. EMERGENCIES ARISE FROM
1. Earth quakes/Hurricanes/Floods
2. Domestic disturbances/riots
3. Terrorists Strikes
4. Airplane crashes
5. Nuclear and “other” power
accidents

2. Media includes
1. Print Media/ News agencies
2. Television
3. Radio
4. Network News Organizations
5. Cable Companies

3. MEDIA WORKS THROUGH GAMES
1. Gatekeeper Game
2. Objectivity Game
3. Reporting Game

4. How Media Functions in Emergency
Situations
1. They originate and create news
through independent reporting.
2. They serve as “conduit’ of official
information.
3. They function as filter or independent
check.

5. Disaster Management Involves 4 Phases of
Activity
1. Mitigation: interaction with media and public
is the least.
2. Preparedness: major role in disseminating
warning
weather information, evacuation instructions.
3. Response: most important source in crisis
management.
4. Recovery: provides documentation of impact
of disaster and relief operation.

6. In the Rodney King case
Journalists defend themselves on the premise
“WE REPORT YOU DECIDE”
The Times carried 21 and 78 riot stories per day
For a total of 247 items in 5 days

7. 1. 17% concerned with Rodney King trial.
2. 42% dealt with violence.
3. When riots ended media attention shifted
to law and order stories.
4. 36% were hard news stories
5. 28% analysis and commentary.
6. 44% photographs of these
7. 42% showing violence.
Residents of the community were cited more
often than official sources.

8. OUTCOME
1. 50 dead.
2. One billion property damaged.
3. Rodney King sues the city for 83 million
but gets 3.8 million.
4. Federal Aid of 100 million to riot victims.
5. 200 million to rebuild damaged areas
6. 400 million for small business loans.
7. Police Chief replaced.
8. 4 Police Officers re-indicted.
9. LAPD undertook to improve relations
with inner city.

9. For Media, Emergency/Disaster/Famine is
Big Business
Most of it is all about money.
In the mad rush for money humans tend to
lose Objectivity.
They have a price!!!

10. For Media, Emergency/Disaster/Famine is
Big Business
Most of it is all about money.
In the mad rush for money humans tend to
lose Objectivity.
They have a price!!!