Role of the media in disasters and humanitarian crisis: proposals for a social function of journalism

Abstract

The media plays an important role in relation to public service. As a result, it faces a great need for information regulation, especially in relation to major events, such as disasters and humanitarian crises. The media, however, does appear committed to solving problems related to their coverage of highly sensitive topics and events. For this study, we analysed newsroom codes of conducts, stylebooks, and other tools of self-regulation, noting the absence of specific recommendations for properly following reporting etiquette in these types of scenarios. Furthermore, an additional study of documents from professional, academic and social organizations showed fragmented and unfocused recommendations for proper etiquette when reporting on sensitive situations. We used these fragments as a starting point to develop a compendium of proposals to help instill the social function of journalism when reporting on disasters and humanitarian crises.