Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Digital Media in Disaster Zones

The onset of Hurricane Sandy - or #Sandy, as you all in the Twittersphere know her - in NYC over the past couple of days has shone the spotlight on digital media and its role in covering natural disasters.  Obviously the internet itself is a boon to all citizens in the affected areas, as it A) helps spread detailed information from authorities that allows people to adequately prepare for the event, B) provides real-time information on the severity of the event as it happens, and C) chronicles the event so future generations can learn from it.

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are exponentially powerful within a disaster zone in that they create an endless staff of amateur "reporters" that can deliver news on the event real-time and from ground zero.  In many cases, these reports - coming from average citizens in very close proximity to the action and danger zones - show the world what's going on minutes, sometimes hours before the professional news services do.  In fact, it's interesting that the big boys now DEPEND on social media sources for fresh, impactful news (click here for Exhibit A).  The mass reporting aspect - enabled by Wi-Fi, smartphones, and tablets - also holds a valuable intrinsic property in that it allows municipal officials and first responders to focus exactly on the areas of the city that are in the most immediate need of assistance.

While this is all great stuff, what is more fascinating to me - at least this time around - is the pervasive use of digital media as a visceral emotional coping mechanism for the impending disaster.  Take today: New Yorkers, most of whom were home from work the entire day as #Sandy bore down on The Big Apple, took to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in droves to... well, to combat their boredom and restlessness, but also to demonstrate their personal preparedness and resilience to their online communities, as well as to receive inspiring encouragement and well wishes from friends and followers in other cities.  Even better, irreverent humor ruled the day in the digital media space, as the citizens of Gotham and the surrounding areas sought to displace any fear or trepidation they should have been feeling by instead engaging in hilarious storm-related activities as Sandy approached. (My two favorite examples so far are this satirical Twitter feed and this viral video from Atlantic City.)  Those nervous, corny jokes you threw out in junior high prior to meeting your fear of speaking in public head-on???  Today was that, multiplied by the power of a million.

So from my own personal experience of today's events, it's a no-brainer that digital media has strongly influenced in a highly positive manner how society experiences and responds to developing natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy.  Are there any negative effects of social media in natural disaster coverage?  If you can think of any, throw out some ideas and let's start a discussion.  (But only after I refresh my browser and get one more viewing round of this.)

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