Ensuring Effective News Coverage in Disasters: A Study of News Coverage Capability in China

Abstract

When a disaster strikes, various organizations, including any affected enterprises and news agencies that cover the event, need to respond quickly. The key to an effective response is a consistent supply of authoritative information at the appropriate time. Using data from 159 disasters that occurred in China between 2003 and 2011, this study investigates the determinants of disaster news coverage. It is found that by considering the characteristics of the disaster, economic and technical factors, and the initial level of coverage, disaster managers can predict newsworthiness, the points of maximum demand for information, and the most stressful time in terms of media attention. All these factors can help those charged with disseminating information on disasters and relief efforts to communicate in a manner that best addresses the needs of the public and the organization they serve. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Design and Realization of Virtual Experimental Teaching Simulation Platform for the Field Reporting of Disaster Events

“…In this way, the students are always in a positive learning state, and their ability to solve practical problems is improved. It is found that by considering the characteristics of the disaster, economic and technical factors, and the initial level of coverage, disaster managers can predict newsworthiness, the points of maximum demand for information, and the most stressful time in terms of media attention [6]. The teacher explained to the students the purpose, principle, content, steps and requirements of the experiment.…”

Effects of Content Features and Lingual Form of Government Information Release on the Regulation of Public Negative Emotions During COVID-19 Epidemic in Wuhan

“…In recent years, governments at all levels have formed a relatively complete communication system in terms of the information disclosure of emergencies [6]. However, in practice, such chronic diseases as the lack of dominant agenda setting, the information release delay, the misjudgment of public concern, and the loss of negative emotion guidance are still serious [6,7]. On the basis of scientifically analyzing the rules of negative emotion infection-evolution, how to explore GIR strategies to effectively adjust and channel social emotions derived from emergencies has become a new topic to improve government emergency management level [8].…”