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Media
Nov 16, 2016 20:13:03 GMT
Post by Megan Mikesell on Nov 16, 2016 20:13:03 GMT
I liked the class exercise the speakers had everyone do. I think it gave a good idea of many moving pieces there are when dealing with a fast spreading disease and how complicated it can get when events pop up along the way. One thing that stuck out to me was dealing with media. I think media in our country could extremely complicate officials' tasks. Obviously people have the right to know what it going on around them and media offers a way to inform public on proper steps to take to protect themselves. However, the media can also quickly spread mass panic. Stories can be twisted or completely false. For example, during Hurricane Katrina hospital patients and staff were trapped in Memorial Hospital where they listened to radio stations telling them false stories such as Marshall law being declared. A deputy sheriff even got on air and said he saw a shark swimming around a hotel, all not true. Imagine being in the hospital and imagining these things going on outside. This is just one example of how media, a helpful tool at times, can make a scary situation worse for the public.
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Media
Nov 21, 2016 15:41:35 GMT
Post by Jeff Dennis on Nov 21, 2016 15:41:35 GMT
Yes, the proliferation of unofficial media sources has really created the forum for lots of misinformation during crises. Imagine if we'd had twitter during 9/11. There has been so much growth in conspiracy-type sites that they have built up distrust in mainstream media, which further complicates the situation. Even if the CDC reports "X is not a threat," someone will spin it as a coverup. The danger with conspiracy theories is that no piece of information debunks them. In the election, there was a contingent of people that took anything Hillary Clinton did as a sign of her failing health. No public appearance today - "she's clearly not well enough to be out." Lots of public appearances today - "clearly she's highly medicated." It never ends.
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Media
Nov 23, 2016 18:43:46 GMT
Post by Lex Hurley on Nov 23, 2016 18:43:46 GMT
Megan, you make a very good point about both the news media as well as social media (as Dr. Dennis mentioned) being used to spread misinformation about a situation and exacerbate a social panic. In the heat of the moment, news agencies are trying as quickly as they can to get information out regarding a catastrophic event to inform their viewers; however this can often mean that fact-checking gets put by the wayside in the interest of time and wrong or even harmful information can be quickly spread to the public. Its only until after the dust settles that the true facts can be sorted out. This may be silly, but your post reminded me of one of my favorite clips from South Park about news agencies running with a story without checking the facts (**no profanity**) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd0p96miSK8 |
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Media
Nov 23, 2016 21:32:06 GMT
Post by ghannaba on Nov 23, 2016 21:32:06 GMT
Media has its own goals of providing information to the public and many measure success by rating. However, my hope is perhaps local new may be more true to the roots of journalism and report facts, but ultimately in moments like in Beaverton, panic and crisis could make people say very reasonable and likely things (lol- great video btw Lex). Clear and open communication when the time is appropriate will be essential in moments of catastrophe and crisis. Keeping aequanimitas in these moments determine the course events can take. One can survive incredibly difficult and stressful situations by keeping a level head and being intentional with organization and communication.
Even at the scene of a person who collapsed unconscious created a myriad of different stories that happened when I saw and heard commotion and found a man laying with a pool of blood around his head. I had little information, but had I focused on what people were saying what they thought or 'heard' happened, I may have been distracted from what really occurred. Thankfully, I could get clear information from those right next to him when the event occurred and could coordinate by delegating responsibility and giving people jobs by name to get him care and help in that moment. Though in these instances, media or others may miss the target on actual events, as health professionals, my experience shows that I must not have "contempt prior to investigation." (yes I am taking it a little out of context) But I must act cautiously and be aware of what is going on around me. Creating an official liaison to organize the channel of information is of utmost importance and keeping individuals away from areas that would put people at risk (which tends to be reasonably well-practiced) is imperative.
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation." —Herbert Spencer
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