Responsible journalism multiplies disaster management efforts, says Toufique Imrose Khalidi

bdnews24.com’s Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi says responsible journalism can multiply and magnify disaster management and relief efforts by providing the right information at the right time.

Though it is important to be as fast as possible with information, it is essential that information is accurate, Khalidi said at a panel discussion on the second day of the first-ever computer assisted exercise of post-earthquake management in Bangladesh.

The panel discussion titled “Role of Media in Disaster Management: Earthquake Perspective” was organised by the 14th Independent Engineering Brigade and the Army War Games Centre at the Army Multipurpose Complex in the Dhaka Cantonment on Monday.

In response to a question, Khalidi urged the army to upgrade its media wing and use the social media to provide accurate information in a fast and direct way to a large audience.

“It is very easy to create confusion when you are dealing with very sensitive information and a very large audience. In cases of both an impending disaster and when disaster has already struck, there are dangers of misinformation.”

This is exacerbated by the pitfalls the media can fall into – that of slumbering when a disaster is waiting to happen and of rushing madly during the immediate response, he said.

“In cases of confusion, the matter is referred up for consultation to settle issues like authenticity, context, sensitivity or whether it will incite or provoke undesirable consequences.”

This is crucial in an age where news travels incredibly fast online, Khalidi said.

The media can also be of help throughout the ‘life cycle’ of a disaster – mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, Khalidi said.

“Preparedness is important. Warnings are vital. Alerting the likely victims is crucial. Media is a major partner in all these. Dissemination of such information has always been the key task of the media outlets. The faster, the better – but never at the expense of accuracy.”

Guests attend a panel discussion on the “Role of Media in Disaster Management: Earthquake Perspective” at the Army Multipurpose Complex on Monday on the second day of training.

Khalidi said the reason for his emphasis on the editorial process is that reporters convey urgency, immediacy and even danger, but may go beyond the limits of responsible journalism in doing so.

“Some media outlets may sell whatever is sensationalistic, engrossing and even controversial. News-gathering may create troublesome outcomes for emergency managers, diverting resources or attention from areas they are needed most.”

But when there is a true partnership between media professionals and response managers, the media can become a ‘true force multiplier’ or even a ‘combat multiplier’, he said.

The media also has the duty of acting as a watchdog to highlight the ‘inconvenient truths’ of mismanagement, incompetence and wrongdoing, even when it causes friction.

“It can keep the regulators on their toes, see if systems are functioning, look at level of preparedness of emergency services.”

In his speech and during the panel discussion, Khalidi recommended that government agencies take proactive steps to utilise the social media.

It provides a fast and direct communication method that enables interactivity for citizens, he said.

The problem is that “gossip and rumours thrive on uncontrolled, unmonitored, unaccountable social media”.

University of Professionals Vice Chancellor Major General Md Emdad-Ul-Bari speaks at a panel discussion on the “Role of Media in Disaster Management: Earthquake Perspective” at the Army Multipurpose Complex on Monday.

He particularly directed these comments to the army, which he called the best organised and equipped institution in Bangladesh in disaster responses.

The army should upgrade its media and mass communication department in keeping with its expansion in size and scope of work, he said.

“The army has grown in size, has many more divisions than it had say 40 years ago, goes beyond its boundary in performing various duties such as leading the disaster response,”

“I suggest you open a Facebook page or a Twitter account, get these accounts verified so that rumour-mongers can be kept at bay, and interact with the various stakeholders, get critical information in times of crises.”

The panel discussion session was moderated by Brigadier General Monirul Islam Akhand and attended by Bangladesh University of Professionals Vice Chancellor Major General Md Emdad-Ul-Bari, BGMEA Vice President (Finance) Mohammed Nasir and former Secretary Mikhail Shiper.

Bari spoke of his interest in introducing courses on defence issues in media studies.

The post-earthquake management training session was attended by the representatives of Navy, Air Force, Border Guards Bangladesh, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Village Defence Party, Police, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, Scouts, Titas, welfare organisation Anjuman Mufidul Islam, Red Crescent, Rajuk, DESCO, DESA, WASA, Dhaka North City Corporation, BRTC and Public Works Department.