planning for a crisis
TRANSCRIPT
Preparing for the Big Story
Rachele KanigelSan Francisco State
UniversityJACC Northern California Conference
November 7, 2009
Types of Big Stories
Natural disasters -- hurricane, earthquake, fire, tornado, flood
Man-made disasters – terrorist act, major accident, serious crime
Major campus stories – a high-ranking official steps down, scandal, suicide, disease outbreak
The Ball State Daily News
Ball State University, Indiana
The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech University
The Daily Mississippian
University of Mississippi
Collegiate Times
Virginia TechQuickTimeª and a decompressor
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Before the event
Assemble a staff contact listDevelop a disaster planCreate a breaking news cultureCreate cooperative arrangements
with other campus media Train for the big story
As the news breaks
Editors should: Assemble a team Staff the newsroom Assign a rewrite person Keep your readers in mind
Think visually
The Daily Reveille
Louisianna State University
Plan a package
Think beyond a single story – break information into sidebars and infoboxes
If there’s a strong visual element, use multiple photos – in print, online or both
Use maps, timelines and other informational graphics to tell the story
Create a logo for the package Include an index to direct readers
The Exponent
Purdue University
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University
Make the most of your Web site
Post a news bulletin as soon as the story breaks
Continue to update the story as it unfolds
Shoot video for major events -- press conferences, candlelight vigils, protest rallies
Use interactive maps
Show the effects of a storm, earthquake, fire or other natural disaster on a campus or community
Include photographs in the map Show the path of a gunman or other threat to
the community Plot emergency shelters, first-aid centers,
open stores and other services for victims
Use interactive features
Give the community discussion boards or other online vehicles to share information and to vent
Set up memorial sites for people who have died
Create discussion topics on related issues -- Should gun laws be changed? Did the campus deal with the traumatic event responsibly?
Allow people to share their experiences -- where were you when the big one hit?
The Daily Mississippian
University of Mississipi
Golden Gate [X]press
San Francisco State University
Mobile formats
Create news podcasts for people who don’t have consistent access to computers and/or electricity
Establish a mobile alert systemThink about how to link to users’ cell
phones and iPods
Serving your communtiy
Think about the problems this trauma has created and how technology can help solve them.
What voids can your news organization fill? What useful information can you collect and
share? How can you use new media to help people
connect? Think about packaging your coverage so readers
have a one-stop shop for information.
Following up
Assess your coverage Brainstorm Editorialize Make space for letters Ask why Don’t drop the ball
Take care of your staff
Get help from campus counseling services
Let students talk through their feelings of covering a challenging stories
Use the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma resources at http://www.dartcenter.org/