Media plays a key role during any humanitarian crisis situation. When populations are struggling for basic needs and rights, media reporting can provide relevant and reliable information, with which people have better chances to survive an immediate crisis.
However, reporting during crisis is not easy: the situation is urgent and often chaotic; time is short. Local media organisations and journalists themselves may well be affected by the crisis or could be in life-threatening situations while reporting.
The way in which local and international media respond to emergency situations are quite radically different. Local media need to provide immediate, detailed information to cater to the needs of local audiences – information about immediate casualties and survivors, share sources of nearby aid, alert any potential threat. International media, in contrast, serve international awareness, informing global audiences about the current situation and its impact on the local population and on the outside world.
During the 10th ASEF Journalists’ Colloquium on “Crisis Reporting: the Role of Asian and European Media”, about 25 journalists along with media experts from ASEM countries will be sharing their experiences in dealing with local and international crisis situations. Some recent incidents will be analysed from Asian and European perspectives.
The Call for Applications will be launched in April. Stay updated through ASEF eNewsletter and social media platforms.