Online help for journalists covering the disaster

ONLINE HELP FOR JOURNALISTS COVERING THE DISASTER

The international media assistance community has responded quickly to the tsunami in Asia by posting various tip sheets and articles to help journalists cover the disaster.

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is a global network of journalists, journalism educators and health professionals dedicated to improving media overage of trauma, conflict and tragedy. The center's European and Australasian branches have posted numerous articles for journalists in South Asia, ranging from tips for managers covering the tsunami, to a journalists' personal account covering a tsunami in Papua New Guinea in 1998.

self-care

. Reporting Disaster: Self-care, Compassion Are Critical
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2004/2004_12_29a.html
. Tips and Tools: A Guide for Journalists - Self-Care for Journalists
http://www.dartcenter.org/tips_tools/journalist.html

psycosocial
. Giving Support to Disaster Survivors
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2005/2005_01_05.html
Johann Thoroddsen of the Icelandic Red Cross discusses constructive roles that aid organizations and journalists can fill in the aftermath of natural disasters.
. Natural Disaster and Mental Health Issues
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2004/2004_12_30b.html
. Images of Trauma: Dart Center Guidelines
http://www.dartcenter.org/europe/articles/news_events/images_guidelines.html

general

. Covering the Tsunami: Tips for Managers
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2004/2004_12_28.html

. Frontline Reporting Guidelines for Families and Managers
http://www.dartcenter.org/europe/articles/families_support/frontline_reporting.html
The Dart Center produced two brochures for families and managers of journalists who are covering conflict and tragedy.
. Advice from One Who's Been There
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2004/2004_12_31.html
The Dart Centre's Trina McLellan spoke to Patrick Hamilton, an award-winning photographer with national newspaper The Australian.
. Tips for Mass Casualty Disasters
http://www.dartcenter.org/articles/headlines/2004/2004_12_30.html
U.S. Army guidelines for exposure to dead human bodies.
. Tips and Tools: A Guide for Journalists - Covering Disasters
http://www.dartcenter.org/tips_tools/disasters.html

The IJNet Training Materials Library has a section on disaster reporting. Although the tip sheets are not specifically related to the tsunami, they may prove useful for journalists covering the situation in South Asia.

. Taking Care of Yourself
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/Trainingdocument.asp?CID=203099&UILang=1
. Are Reporters Prepared to Cover a Disaster?
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/Trainingdocument.asp?CID=25005&UILang=1
. How to Prepare a Plan of Action for Disaster Coverage
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/Trainingdocument.asp?CID=25004&UILang=1
. Practical Suggestions for Journalists Covering Catastrophe
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/Trainingdocument.asp?CID=203098&UILang=1
. Five Tips for Being Helpful to the Community
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/Trainingdocument.asp?CID=25003&UILang=1

The U.S.-based Poynter Institute also has posted several articles and tips for both Western and Asian journalists covering the tsunami.

. The Journalist as Eyewitness
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=76244
. Numbering the Dead
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=5813
Lessons for journalists and managers in news judgment and empathy.
. The Asian Tsunami: Think Globally, Locally, Journalistically
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=76241
Questions and resources for journalists to consider as they plan their coverage.
. Tsunami Aftermath Resources
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=32&aid=76316

The International News Safety Institute also has posted health warnings and tips for journalists in South Asia - particularly those in the Aceh region of Indonesia.

. Health Information for News Professionals Covering the Asian Tsunami Disaster
http://www.newssafety.com/stories/insi/fleet02.htm
. Earthquake aid for Indonesian journalists
http://www.newssafety.com/stories/insi/aji5.htm
. Earthquake/Tsunami/Warzone Alert: Warning Aceh Indonesia
http://www.newssafety.com/stories/insi/aceh27.htm

Other groups have dedicated parts of their Web sites to tsunami coverage:

The South Asian Journalists Association - a group of South Asian journalists in North America - has backgrounders, story ideas, news sources and a list of freelance journalists available in South Asia (http://www.saja.org/tsunami.html).

The Asia Pacific Media Network, published by the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Asia Institute, has a page with a variety of media-related stories on the tsunami (http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/tsunami/).

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