24 January 2009 Post 2 Surveillance and Analysis of Disaster Coverage

Surveillance and Analysis of Disaster Coverage
How organizations cover disasters in Haiti using multimedia

1. MSNBC has a comprehensive website covering the earthquake in Haiti. The website employs many different forms of multimedia such as, video, blogs from volunteers in Haiti, an interactive map of Port-au-Prince calling out hospitals, governmental buildings, transportation, schools, churches, ports, search and rescue areas, and large refugee camps. A scientific analysis on ‘Why Haiti’ – explaining why the earthquake occurred, its magnitude, along with interactive maps imported from Bing, give the viewing audience a holistic view of the area and updates on the catastrophe. The website also supplies visitors with clear information on donating, listing reputable relief organizations.


2. World Concern is a disaster response team that assists impoverished areas and responds to natural disasters. The website has imported video from Channel 5 King News along with information about their efforts, a photo slide show, downloadable flyers that assist in spreading information and a call to aid, many 'badges' that can be attached to blogs and websites for easy donation, and quick facts about Haiti and how World Concern plans to help are all easily located on the website. They also have an interactive world map that displays their areas of aid and once clicked, a short biography of the region and what World Concern is doing to improve the country is displayed.



3. Lynn University's website update on their two lost faculty members and four students, one of which is Britney Gengel, a soon to be twenty year old student is of personal interest to me as I am from Massachusetts and know one of her family members. This story is being followed very closely in Central Massachusetts and updates on her family's mission to find Britney are topics of many websites. The story is especially heart wrenching because her parents were told that Britney was found among the rubble and safe. They were comforted to hear that she was flown to Florida and awaited a joyous reunion with their young daughter. Unfortunately this wasn't accurate information and she still remains among the missing in Haiti. Her father and mother just returned from Haiti where they attempted to facilitate the search and rescue mission. The Lynn University website posts daily updates on progress and urges for donations. Although this website is basic (text and pictures of the missing) it displays relevant, specific information that is difficult to find elsewhere.

An excerpt from their Earthquake Response Website.
11 a.m. Update: Work continues at Hotel Montana site, press reports regarding status of missing remain unconfirmed
By Lynn University on January 25, 2010 11:18 AM
Reports to Lynn University officials this morning indicate that rescue operations continue in some capacity at the Hotel Montana site, but that work on-site is increasingly shifting toward search and recovery. According to this morning's updates, a search and rescue team from Fairfax, Va., is still on site and will remain until fully relieved by U.S. military teams.

At this time, neither the State Department nor the Haiti Taskforce team has officially called an end to rescue operations at the Hotel Montana. Once official word is received, that transition will be noted in an update to the Lynn alert site (www.lynn.edu/alert).

Press reports unconfirmed
Yesterday and this morning there have been a number of press reports indicating that one or more of the missing Journey of Hope members have been identified on site. Lynn University cannot confirm those reports. At this time, university officials have not learned of any Department of State notifications. As noted below, such official notifications are the responsibility of the State Department and will directed initially toward the families. The university will only confirm such reports after they are received by the families, the university is notified, and Lynn officials are granted permission to share that information with the campus community and general public.

Barring any breaking news, the next update to this site will be at 6 p.m. today.

MEDIA NOTES:
Reminder: Lynn officials have continued to be asked to verify press reports concerning the status of our missing students and faculty. As noted above, the university is relying on State Department officials to relay such news and will report such details only after they are received by the families (university will not be notified first), and university officials receive permission to share that news with the campus community and general public. Only after that news is received and those permissions granted will the university post such information on its alert site (www.lynn.edu/alert)

4. Anderson Cooper's AC360 blog shares text, video and audio of Haiti and offers clear coverage of the daily struggle. His blog format allows for a more intimate look into Haiti and his video/audio delivery is a strong tool in getting across the unimaginable devastation.