Disaster Coverage

Science Communication in Relationship to Disaster

It is important for anyone planning to communicate the science of a disaster to examine the perspective of communication. In some cases, individual scientists or organizations will need to formulate a communication plan because they have directly contributed to the disaster. This is a very different situation from providing explanations from the perspective of an expert assisting society to understand the disaster.

A significant amount of published literature and online information describes best practices for organizations responsible for managing or communicating risk, offering advice to prepare for a disaster, or even those directly causing a disaster (for example, in the case of an explosion at a chemical plant). Science and technology representatives may have a role in what leads up to disasters and may also be called on to answer questions about them, potentially affecting the reputation of the quoted person or their agency, or even leading to legal or criminal action.

News Cycle

When a disaster first occurs, there may be no remaining information technology infrastructure in the local area to connect with the wider world. Communicators and reporters who are present at the location will have an especially important role to play. The media becomes a vital link between the disaster-affected region and the rest of the world.

Immediately following a disaster, there may be a huge amount of media attention as communities try to find out what is happening, governments try to deal with the situation and warn people, and media try to disseminate stories to the rest of the country and internationally. Experts will be sought to explain what has happened and to provide specialist angles. Communication staff may have to field hundreds of calls from journalists around the world.

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