A vital part of modern journalism, Crisis news reports are timely updates about emergencies and disasters that threaten lives, communities, or entire nations. Effective crisis reporting is objective and fact-based, free from personal biases and emotions, and focuses on delivering vital information. During times of turmoil, Crisis news reports can shape society’s response by facilitating communication between authorities and the public. This crucial role requires specialized skills, resources, and training.
While it is important to inform the public during a crisis, it is also critical to maintain ethical standards. For example, reporters must consider whether to use graphic images during a crisis that may cause distress or promote sensationalism. They must also avoid infringing on the privacy of those affected by a crisis and ensure that they follow all relevant laws. The rapid pace of a crisis often limits the opportunity to cross-verify information, which can result in inaccurate news reports and spread misinformation. This challenge is exacerbated by the growing number of independent media outlets that are increasingly dependent on making a profit and must generate their own income in addition to receiving advertising revenue.
Another challenge is that crises divert attention from other pressing issues, such as the widening gap between rich and poor in many countries or the slow progression of major humanitarian crises. In the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, a large proportion of news articles domesticated the crisis by emphasizing how the British population was most susceptible to the threat. Additionally, fear appeals were widely used, although research has shown that they are less effective than other forms of media coverage (Kok et al. 2020).
