The media remain important in all disaster communication channels, traditional media primarily facilitate one-way information and generates awareness in the moment raising funds and resources, where as social media can create opportunities for two-way dialogue and interaction among organizations, public, and individuals.
The use of social media combined with the number of individuals using them make evident that social media are not merely fads, but instead a notable yet evolving communication tool with their stakeholders during disasters. But with all media related things there are the good and bad to how it can be presented and used, within days of the devastating earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan , NGOs had launched emergency appeals calling for donations to assist with the crisis. More than 100 countries offered Japan assistance, and search and rescue teams from across the world within a week. While it seemed that Japan were in need of rescuing they did not request assistance. But headlines in some newspapers reported that the Japanese were crying out for help and were being ignored and left to die.
I feel that the assistance was needed and welcomed at some level, but could this have been the case of an over supply needed during the crisis ….. probably more so I the recovery.
Never the less the media plays a major role in crisis and recovery cycles.
