The Public Information for
The Public Information for
Disasters Contingency Plan
Disasters Contingency Plan
Background
Background
Public Information for Disasters Contingency
Public Information for Disasters Contingency
Plan was developed to improve the
Plan was developed to improve the
PHT
PHT
’
’
s
s
coordination of media engagement with the
coordination of media engagement with the
aim of achieving the following :
aim of achieving the following :
–
–
Improved ability to advocate for the needs of
Improved ability to advocate for the needs of
disaster affected populations;
disaster affected populations;
–
–
Improved ability to communicate with disaster
Improved ability to communicate with disaster
affected populations;
affected populations;
–
–
Greater success in resource mobilization from
Greater success in resource mobilization from
donors/public;
donors/public;
–
–
Improved perceptions of work and worth of
Improved perceptions of work and worth of
humanitarian community.
humanitarian community.
Methodology
Methodology
The Plan was developed by drawing on the expertise and opinion o
The Plan was developed by drawing on the expertise and opinion o
f
f
Public Information Officers from PHT agencies throughout the
Public Information Officers from PHT agencies throughout the
Pacific.
Pacific.
One day workshop in Suva, led by Amanda Pitt,
One day workshop in Suva, led by Amanda Pitt,
UNOCHA
UNOCHA
’
’
s
s
most
most
senior Public Information Specialist from Bangkok
senior Public Information Specialist from Bangkok
–
–
PI Plan was
PI Plan was
drafted
drafted
Discussion was based on
Discussion was based on
–
–
Humanitarian Reform;
Humanitarian Reform;
–
–
How the Cluster Approach could be applied to the management of m
How the Cluster Approach could be applied to the management of m
edia
edia
relations; and
relations; and
–
–
Unique challenges of working with the media during a disaster.
Unique challenges of working with the media during a disaster.
A similar meeting was subsequently held in Samoa to include
A similar meeting was subsequently held in Samoa to include
PIOs
PIOs
from this region in the planning process.
from this region in the planning process.
Guiding principles
Guiding principles
To achieve the positive outcomes the plan aims to meet the
To achieve the positive outcomes the plan aims to meet the
following broad objectives:
following broad objectives:
1.
1.
Ensure that all communication with the media draws
Ensure that all communication with the media draws
information from the same source
information from the same source
-
-
consistency of messages.
consistency of messages.
2.
2.
Ensure that each person who is likely to undertake
Ensure that each person who is likely to undertake
communication understands their role, responsibilities and
communication understands their role, responsibilities and
authority
authority
-
-
avoids duplication.
avoids duplication.
3.
3.
Ensure that each person who is likely to communicate with
Ensure that each person who is likely to communicate with
the media is appropriately resourced
the media is appropriately resourced
-
-
skills and tools required
skills and tools required
to do their job.
to do their job.
4.
4.
Ensure that, where possible, appropriate preparedness
Ensure that, where possible, appropriate preparedness
measures are taken prior to the onset of the cyclone season.
measures are taken prior to the onset of the cyclone season.
This will reduce the workload during a disaster by allowing
This will reduce the workload during a disaster by allowing
some decision making to be made during periods of relative
some decision making to be made during periods of relative
calm
calm
Implementation
Implementation
2 phased approach:
2 phased approach:
1.
1.
Preparedness
Preparedness
2.
2.
Response
Response
Preparedness Phase
Preparedness Phase
1.
1.
Build, maintain and circulate contact
Build, maintain and circulate contact
details of key media targets
details of key media targets
2.
2.
Produce and circulate
Produce and circulate
“
“
what to do
what to do
”
”
and
and
“
“
what not to do
what not to do
”
”
media training one pager
media training one pager
3.
3.
Agree on a set of generic holding
Agree on a set of generic holding
statements
statements
4.
4.
Agree on key spokesperson at Cluster and
Agree on key spokesperson at Cluster and
IASC level
IASC level
–
–
guidelines for media
guidelines for media
engagement
engagement
Response Phase
Response Phase
1.
1.
All communications to draw on
All communications to draw on
OCHA
OCHA
’
’
s
s
situation reps for statistics
situation reps for statistics
2.
2.
Cluster
Cluster
PIOs
PIOs
work with RC to develop
work with RC to develop
key advocacy messages
key advocacy messages
3.
3.
Key advocacy messages reviewed
Key advocacy messages reviewed
regularly and amended
regularly and amended
Implementation
Implementation
Central/coordinating figure is necessary to ensure
Central/coordinating figure is necessary to ensure
successful implementation of the Plan.
successful implementation of the Plan.
Ability of media to +/
Ability of media to +/
-
-
affect a number of aspects
affect a number of aspects
of a disaster response. They also play a major role
of a disaster response. They also play a major role
in shaping the general reputation of the
in shaping the general reputation of the
humanitarian community.
humanitarian community.
Need to proactively manage media relations.
Need to proactively manage media relations.
–
–
A coordinated approach will be most effective
A coordinated approach will be most effective
and the Public Information for Disasters
and the Public Information for Disasters
Contingency Plan is a first step towards
Contingency Plan is a first step towards
organizing this.
organizing this.
UNOCHA / RCO roles?
UNOCHA / RCO roles?
Workshops
Workshops
–
–
simulation exercise
simulation exercise
Way Forward
Way Forward
OCHA to foster initial adoption of Plan
OCHA to foster initial adoption of Plan
Endorsement by
Endorsement by
RCs
RCs
Implementation by PHT
Implementation by PHT