Maintain constant communication links with the EMC via the media
liaison officer and with the monitoring scientists' spokesperson,
using both telephone and radio.
Allocate sufficient airtime and column space to incorporate
new information about the developing crisis.
Make provision to break into scheduled programmes for urgent
announcements.
On radio and television - to attract the listeners' attention
- use an immediately recognizable jingle or 'intro' for all
announcements related to the crisis.
In the press, the same space should always be used for information
about the volcano - preferably on the front page. Use an instantly
recognisable logo.
Update web pages developed at the pre-crisis stage (local media)
or establish new ones from scratch (regional and global media).
Ensure that the same message is disseminated off island as well
as on.
For multi-media corporations, make sure that the message is
consistent across all channels.
Be cooperative. Be willing to offer constructive advice if you
feel it might help.
DO NOT issue any announcements related to the
volcano's behaviour or to alert levels or warnings without the
express agreement of the EMC.
DO NOT embellish messages with unnecessary
information.
DO NOT transmit or print information or opinion
from unofficial sources.
DO NOT stall. Issue warning messages as soon
as they are received. Delay could, literally, mean the difference
between life and death. |
During a volcanic crisis, the EMC - or its
equivalent - will have one priority, to limit injury,
loss of life, and damage to property and
infrastructure. All else will be secondary. Once a
crisis begins to develop the EMC and its
individual members will be under extreme
pressure. To avoid being intrusive and
distracting, limit day-to-day contact with the
EMC to the media liaison officer. As appropriate,
he or she may be able to arrange interviews with
other members of the EMC.
Politicians and senior administrators, who are likely to be
key players during the emergency, and some of whom will undoubtedly
sit on the EMC, are likely to have misgivings about liaising
with the media. Typical concerns voiced include the following:
Their answers will be misinterpreted or twisted.
Vital parts of the message they are trying to present will be
omitted, modified or confused.
The message will be made incoherent and inconsistent.
False information will be released to the public.
The situation will be over-dramatised.
No matter how great the temptation, avoid seeking intrigue during
an emergency. The first and foremost goal in a crisis is to
save lives. Your contribution towards keeping the public fully
informed is crucial to the successful achievement of this goal.
If at all possible (i.e. for local media), establish a protocol
with the Emergency Management Committee for receiving information
from the sources you may wish to consult before a crisis develops.
Local media should endeavor to work with the EMC prior to a
crisis developing to design a plan for the dissemination of
warning messages, |
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