We help communities recover, rebuild and reimagine after disaster
May 17, 2022

017: Take 5— Media and Disaster Reporting- A Focus on Information Transfer and Responsibility

017: Take 5— Media and Disaster Reporting- A Focus on Information Transfer and Responsibility

Links are provided where to find all three guests’ organizational or personal affiliations below:   Connect with Pat:    Connect with Sydnie:            Connect with Wendy:    “If we...

Links are provided where to find all three guests’ organizational or personal affiliations below:

 

Connect with Pat: 

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

 

Connect with Sydnie: 

Website 

Facebook 

LinkedIn 

Twitter 

 

Connect with Wendy: 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

 

“If we are in a position to be able to save lives, let's make sure we are absolutely adamantly prepared to do that.” -Pat Kerrigan

 

“Understand [not only] the power that you have, but also the responsibility you have to tell a very strong but truthful story with the powerful tools that we all carry.” -Sydnie Kohara

 

“I'm getting back to the preventative side of things. There are little things every homeowner could do to harden their homes.” -Wendy Nystrom

 

Episode Description: 

Media is arguably one of the most powerful resources in terms of information gathering and distribution. As the old adage goes, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Media, especially that which has gone digital and wirelessly transmitted to smartphones and televisions has become a force unto itself — capable of bringing changes in the society, influencing people to action, and even saving lives.

In critical events, some people have played significant roles in saving lives, and they are not people of authority but ordinary citizens who have used the power of the media to deliver critical facts and stories. They are called “citizen journalists”. If we can harness the power of media personalities and citizens as information gatekeepers during a disaster, this will be a game-changer in the field of disaster response and recovery. 

This episode is focused on the current media landscape, its role in disaster reporting and the responsibility it owes to the public, and how the public can also be reliable and authentic storytellers. Our guests, award-winning radio host Pat Kerrigan, Kohara Studio Founder Sydnie Kohara, and Environmental Social Justice founder, Wendy E. Nystrom talk about what the media and the community can do beforehand to deliver information as fast and factual as possible and utilize the tools a.k.a. our gadgets to add value to the community during a disaster. We also hear practical advice on how working with different sectors such as agriculture and first-responders can help bridge the gap in information transfer and build a more resilient community.  

Connect with After The Fire USA: 

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Highlights:

01:34: Season 2 Ep 1— How to Broadcast Media: Radio with Pat Kerrigan

 

04:43: Season 2 Ep 12— How to Inform the Public as an Information Gatekeeper During a Disaster with Sydnie Kohara

 

08:46: Season2 Ep 19— How to Address Wildfire Risks and Insurance with Indigenous Practices and Community-Wide Preventative Responses