Citizen journalists, media 'must work together'

The increasing role and influence of citizen journalism through digital age media has raised questions about its credibility in accuracy and objectivity, making it necessary for more specialised media to cover news on natural disasters, according to Astrid Zweynert, Deputy Editor of AlertNet, Thomson Reuters.

Zweynert's comments came during a workshop on "Natural Disaster: Mass Communication in the Arab World…No Comment!" held as part of Arab Media Forum 2010. The workshop highlighted the nuances in media reporting of disasters and the means to enhance the coverage of such events in the Arab World.

Zweynert added: "The media is a catalyst in helping citizens cope better with natural disasters. The greater challenge, however, is to find ways to prevent disaster news from fading out in the media so we can continue to actively contribute towards making a difference in the lives of the victims affected."

Moderated by Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Presenter of Khotwa show, Abu Dhabi TV (UAE), speakers at the workshop included Abdul Rahman Al Tenaiji, Head of Media and PR, UAE Red Crescent; Zweynert, Hussain Al Qahtani, Head Of Media, Presidency of Meteorology and Environment; Khaled Khalifa, Head of Middle East/Asia Bureau, United Nations IRIN News Service, and Randa Fouad, President, Arab Media Forum for Environment and Development.

Khaled Khalifa shed light on the need for media to be better prepared for disasters. Rather than taking on a reactive approach, the Arabic media needs to work closely with government bodies to ensure that together they can use the media as a tool to tackle all humanitarian catastrophes while alleviating the pressures and sufferings inflicted on victims.

Abdul Rahman Al Tenaiji said: "More attention needs to be given to the humanitarian field within the Arabic media. Terminology to convey news relating to natural disasters must also be used accurately since the lives of potentially millions are at stake."

Randa Fouad expressed her views on the need for citizen journalism to play a more strategic partner in social responsibility. She said: "While they act as a tool to help alleviate the pressures in times of disaster, both citizen journalists and traditional media will need to work together in disseminating information quickly and accurately."

She urged media to take on a more preventative strategy rather than reacting once disaster strikes. She referred to Bangladesh as a model for other countries to put in place early warning systems and processes.

Hussain Al Qahtani spoke on bridging the gap between dealing with natural disasters as merely a news scoop instead of treating it as a humanitarian catastrophe that we all need to address as socially responsible citizens. He said: "Arabic media needs to become more strategically aligned with government organisations and must remember that they are the critical link in the chain of disaster management. We must not be afraid of media institutions. Rather, we need to work closely with them to ensure that minimal damage and suffering is escalated in times of crises."

All Arabic representatives concurred that while natural disasters in the Middle East have often been dismissed as an area that has little impact in the region, it must not be isolated from the rest of the global crises since all major events are likely to experience a domino effect further down the line. AMF 2010 has served as a crucial platform for insightful discussions on issues such as citizen journalism, sports media, the media in Asia, Arabic channels' diffidence to expand into other languages, and the etiquette of debate on live TV.