The role of the media is very important. They are often not provided with the correct information, resulting in the spread of incorrect information which adds to the panic.

Pre-disaster

• The media can influence the government to prioritize Disaster Risk Issues. For example, it may expose excessive and inefficient expenditure on disaster preparedness in a particular region.
• It can help disaster mitigation experts create early warning systems. Emergency alerts using TV, radio, cable services across the country can be very effective.
• To educate the community in recognising symptoms and reporting them early if found.
• Ensuring cooperation of the community in risk reduction by forewarning the people about the consequences of their dangerous actions and operations.

During disaster

During the onslaught of the disaster, what is of utmost importance is to keep the morale of the people high, to create self-confidence in them and to prevent panic. The media can help, in many ways in ensuring these conditions.
• Continuous and factual coverage, particularly by local media, can assist the authorities, voluntary organizations and volunteers in reaching the affected with assistance and relief.
• Cautioning the affected or to be affected people about the Dos and Don’ts, of scotching rumours and preventing panic and confusion.
• Identifying the needy spots and focusing attention on them, giving details on impassable roadways and downed utility lines.
• Communicating the information to the people and the concerned authorities sufficiently in advance to enable them to take the necessary steps to minimize the losses of lives and property.
• It provides the outside world with a glimpse of what that affected community is dealing with.

Post-disaster

• Collection of material resources and the enlisting of man-power by appealing to the people to come forward to render help.
• Helping the affected in establishing contacts with their closed ones
• Keeping a watch and report on some anti-social elements who try to take advantage of such situations
• Contributing by countering the damaging, exaggerated and negative reporting and propaganda in the foreign media on the occurrence of the disasters.

Negative Effects of Media

• The media may exaggerate some elements of the disaster and create unnecessary panic.
• Inaccurate portrayal of human behaviour during and after a disaster may create a very dramatic and exciting picture but it is only partially truthful.
• Influential politicians may manipulate the media for personal and political gains.
• Biased coverage for the purposes of sensationalism by choosing to capture only small incidents of horrific devastations leads to misreporting.
• Convergence of media representatives on a high-profile event can create tremendous "congestion" in the affected area.
• Live coverage of critical operations can disrupt the counter-terrorism strategy of the forces, as was observed in Mumbai 26/11 attacks.

A prompt presentation of the real state of affairs by our media, and the correction of the misrepresentations by them will go a long way in dispelling the wrong impressions created abroad which may otherwise have adverse effect on the administration, the economy and the polity of the country.