KATRINA COVERAGE PRESENTATION

BY MEGAN, ELIZABETH, CINDY, JIMMY, & GLENN

Relevant Prior Reporting

• Accurate/Updated information• Weather Forecasts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE4Z_NDjrG4• Explains vulnerability of New Orleans • Credibility

• In 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed the three most serious potential disasters:• A terrorist attack on New York City• An earthquake in San Francisco• A hurricane strike on New Orleans

• Scientific American published an article by Mark Fischetti titled: "Drowning New Orleans (2001)

• Eric Berger, science writer for the Houston Chronicle, wrote an article: "KEEPING ITS HEAD ABOVE WATER: New Orleans faces doomsday scenario.” (2001)

• National Geographic magazine published an article by Joel K. Bourne titled: "Gone With the Water.” (2004)

Explains vulnerability of New Orleans

Relevant Prior ReportingExample

• Atlanta Journal “Katrina Storms Ashore” 8/28/ 2005 (One day before Katrina hit). • Article touches on key questions that people would want to know. • Are people leaving? • Can they leave? • Are people stranded? • Why is there such a sense of fear?• Are experts confirming this?

Effective During• Proactive (What citizens can and should be doing)• Credible Sources• Factual instead of dramatized• Constantly Updated

Ineffective During• Jumps to Conclusions• Undermines the state of emergency• Lack of Context• Lack of credibility

Ineffective DuringExample

• Clearly jumping to conclusion

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Effective After

• Proactive (how to learn from this)• Check on how situation was handled by the government• Constructive criticism

Effective AfterExamples

Hurricane Katrina CNN Larry King Live•“How you can help” Specific numbers to call: Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Next of Kin Registry•Details of what people are forgetting to help with. Ex) hearing aid batteries •Emotional triggering with pictures and video clips of the people and the damage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVT74piVBGw

Ineffective After

• Furthers the idea of us vs. them (Americans outside New Orleans vs. New Orleans residents)• Undermines the state of emergency

Ineffective AfterExamples

• Undermines the state of emergency•Breaking News: Lost Pets!?

Ineffective AfterExamples

• Furthers the idea of us vs. them (Americans outside New Orleans vs. New Orleans residents)• Dallas Morning News reports, “most Katrina evacuees will learn to move past their tragedy.”