"In describing their understanding of trauma, disaster, and conflict photography, photojournalists in this qualitative study conceptualized abstract experiences using specific types of metaphors. Their metaphors focused on concepts such as violence, bewilderment, and health/affliction. The unique as
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pect of these metaphors was how they were reflective of aspects of journalism culture and the work of trauma photography. Through a metaphorical analysis of these figurative expressions, I show how metaphors construct a conceptual system of understanding the work of trauma photography and occupational identity, as well as influence the formation of the culture of journalism itself. Understanding this metaphorical picture may add to our knowledge about how traumatic stress injuries are recognized, managed, and aided in newsrooms." (Abstract)
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"In 1993, this was the first book-length study of the representation of disasters in the media and of the marketing methods used by major relief agencies. In the preface to this new paperback edition which reviews the major developments in aid and in the media since the early 1990s, Jonathan Benthal
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l contests the view of some commentators that the emergence of new technologies – the Internet and the cellphone – has radically changed the balance of power between the aid system and afflicted populations. He develops his original theme to argue that a ‘stable system’ is in place, whereby representations of misery in the South are exported to the North as consumables which are continuously reciprocated by flows of humanitarian aid. When the allotted role of Third World victimhood is repudiated – for instance, by migrant workers – the North sets up stern political barriers." (Back cover)
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"This article offers a trajectory of humanitarian communication, which suggests a clear, though not linear, move from emotion-oriented to post-emotional styles of appealing. Drawing on empirical examples, the article demonstrates that the humanitarian sensibility that arises out of these emerging st
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yles breaks with pity and privileges a short-term and low-intensity form of agency, which is no longer inspired by an intellectual agenda but momentarily engages us in practices of playful consumerism. Whereas this move to the post-emotional should be seen as a reaction to a much-criticized articulation between politics and humanitarianism, which relied on ‘universal’ morality and grand emotion, it is also a response to the intensely mediatized global market in which humanitarian agencies operate today. The article concludes by reflecting on the political and ethical ambivalence at the heart of this new style of humanitarian communication, which offers both the tentative promise of new practices of altruism and the threat of cultural narcissism." (Abstract)
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"The report examines how authorities and humanitarian and aid organizations can best balance the opportunities and challenges of exploiting different technologies at the key stages on the timeline of crisis—early warning and preparedness, immediate humanitarian relief, and reconstruction and long-
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term development." (Executive summary)
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"El texto resalta la necesidad de dejar de culparle a la naturaleza como la responsable de los desastres, y asumir que los riesgos son procesos construidos socialmente. Es decir, que para que el riesgo exista se necesitan fenómenos peligrosos y condiciones de vulnerabilidad que son generadas por lo
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s seres humanos. Siendo así la realidad, esnecesario un cambio en la actitud de los diferentes actores, mostrándonos como parte que provoca el problema, para asumir nuestras responsabilidades, y luego intervenir en sus soluciones. La base del Periodismo Público relacionado con la prevención de desastres parte del reconocimiento que todos los individuos, sin importar nuestro rol en la sociedad, tenemos la responsabilidad de contribuir a la reducción del riesgo, en primer lugar, desde una mirada prospectiva, evitando aportar a los factores de generación de situaciones de desequilibrio en nuestro territorio y en nuestra sociedad; en segundo lugar, actuando de manera responsable para reducir las situaciones de riesgo existentes; y finalmente, estando preparados para cuando los riesgos se materialicen en desastres, a sabiendas que es imposible reducir las situaciones de riesgo existentes a cero. Es por esto necesario cambiar la forma como se ha venido haciendo periodismo alrededor del tema de riesgo y contribuir al cambio social a través del debate público, la deliberación y la participación, ejes del Periodismo Público que se propone el debate público promovido por los medios para incluir las propuestas ciudadanas en las agendas y políticas públicas." (Prólogo)
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"This handbook will help media practitioners to conceptualize the risks, expand their knowledge on how to incorporate disaster risk reduction in their current programmes, and design and develop appropriate programmes to communicate the risk with their audiences. Efforts were made to ensure that loca
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l media groups would have easy access to information on Disaster Risk Reduction that could be incorporated into their future programmes." (Publisher description)
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"From the Holocaust to 9/11, modern communications systems have incessantly exposed us to reports of distant and horrifying events, experienced by strangers, and brought to us through media technologies. In this book leading scholars explore key questions concerning the truth status and broader impl
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ications of 'media witnessing'." (Publisher description)
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"The overlying purpose of this book is to construct a communication based approach to risk communication. In doing so, this book establishes a message-centered focus to risk communication. Section one of the book establishes definitions and parameters of risk communication, identifies the complex au
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dience expectations for risk messages, and introduces a model of best practices for effective risk communication. In section two, the best practices are applied in four robust case studies. Section three includes chapters devoted to developing a mindful approach to risk communication, ethical considerations of risk communication, and a final chapter that discusses future developments of risk communication." (Publisher description)
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"When crisis or disaster strikes, people need help. They need, shelter, food, water and safety. They need these things rapidly and effectively. Modern humanitarian responses have become more effi cient and effective at providing these things. This policy briefing argues that people need information
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too. It does so not to create an added burden on humanitarian responses that are always stretched thinly. It does so because such responses are too often undermined, often insufficiently effective – and sometimes outright counterproductive – if people’s information needs are considered a low priority during humanitarian crises." (Introduction)
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"El presente artículo analiza los discursos periodísticos y la representación de temas claves vinculados a la gestión del riesgo de desastres en cuatro países de la subregión Andina. El estudio se apoya en elementos teóricos de la investigación en medios y periodismo, tales como Agenda Setti
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ng (establecimiento de la agenda periodística) y Encuadre, y de conceptos claves sobre gestión del riesgo de desastres. El estudio analiza 1) la manera como un conjunto de medios escritos de la subregión andina, a través de sus ediciones online, abordaron y caracterizaron la gestión de riesgo durante el período abril, 2007 - julio, 2008; 2) la naturaleza de los discursos periodísticos predominantes durante ese período; y 3) las implicaciones que tales discursos pueden tener en la comunicación para la gestión de riesgo de desastres. El estudio ofrece evidencia empírica que puede servir de base para orientar acciones futuras que ayuden a periodistas y comunicadores a informar mejor a la comunidad." (Resumen)
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"This book takes a unique and comprehensive look at how the international community, led by the US, responded to ten humanitarian crises of the last decade and how major media outlets played a role in influencing (or failing to influence) action. Crises examined include Liberia, East Timor, Somalia,
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Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Angola, Haiti, and the Congo. Soderlund and Briggs apply the same analytic method to each case to discover why the international community was unwilling, time and time again, to address this new brand of conflict that appeared at the time." (Publisher description)
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"Our 21 contributors -– most of them from Asia, and representing media, development or humanitarian sectors -- do not engage in mere theoretical discussions. In 19 chapters of this book, they draw on their rich and varied experience working in either preparing disaster resilient communities or res
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ponding to humanitarian emergencies triggered by specific disasters. Some are journalists who have reported on disasters from the 'ground zero'; others are aid workers, public information officials or development professionals who have been at the forefront in emergency responses or are engaged in disaster risk reduction. Diverse as their backgrounds and experiences are, our contributors share a belief in the central role that communication can play before, during and after disasters occur. Within this, they offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives as well as a great deal of practical advice on how to communicate hazards and disasters at inter-personal, inter-agency, inter-sector and public levels. The tools, technologies and methods may vary, but there is a broad consensus that to be effective, communication needs to be two-way, inclusive, participatory and sustained over time. It is not an 'add on' to other development interventions, but an integral component in its own right." (Page 3)
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"This manual provides a methodology for trainers and media support organizations interested in providing courses on the coverage of avian influenza. It also provides a sample three-day training course agenda, complete with suggested lectures, discussion topics, exercises, suggested reading, field tr
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ip planning, and field safety guidelines for journalists covering avian influenza. The manual uses basic sources on avian influenza, including information from World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), scientific journals and academic research. It also provides links to resources for trainers designing their own courses. The manual offers practical suggestions for trainers to help journalists tailor avian influenza knowledge gained from the training sessions to the specific needs of their audience." (Page 6)
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