Communications are key to the success of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Accurate information disseminated to the general public, to elected officials and community leaders, as well as to the media, reduces risk, saves lives and property, and speeds recovery. Disaster Communications in a Changing Media World, Second Edition, provides valuable information for navigating these priorities in the age of evolving media. The emergence of new media like the Internet, email, blogs, text messaging, cell phone photos, and the increasing influence of first informers are redefining the roles of government and media.
The tools and rules of communications are evolving, and disaster communications must also evolve to accommodate these changes and exploit the opportunities they provide. Disaster Communications in a Changing Media World, Second Edition, illuminates the path to effective disaster communication, including the need for transparency, increased accessibility, trustworthiness and reliability, and partnerships with the media.
Author Biography:
George Haddow currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management at The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Prior to joining George Washington University, Mr. Haddow worked for eight years in the Office of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the White House Liaison and the deputy Chief of Staff. In these positions, Mr. Haddow was involved in the day-to-day management of FEMA responsible for the Director's communications; policy formulation in the areas of disaster response, public/private partnerships, public information, environmental protection and disaster mitigation including the design and implementation of FEMA's national disaster mitigation initiative entitled Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities. As the Agency liaison with the White House for Presidential appointments to headquarters and FEMA regional positions, Mr. Haddow worked directly with the FEMA Director and the White House Office of Presidential Personnel in the recruitment and the hiring of all Presidential appointments at FEMA. He also managed FEMA's disaster management and mitigation projects in Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ecuador and the Bahamas and coordinated FEMA activities with Korea and South Africa. As the Sierra Club's National Communications Director, Kim Haddow oversees the Club's branding efforts, strategic communications planning, message development, and earned and paid media. Her duties include coordination and management of the Media Team, Sierra Magazine, the Web and Publishing Services Teams and Sierra Club Productions. Haddow joined the Sierra Club after working nine years as its media consultant and advertising agency. Other Haddow Communications, Inc., clients included the Apollo Project - a joint environmental/union initiative, Ocean Champions, Public Campaign, the National PTA, the U.S. State Department, the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, and The Trust for America's Health. Before starting her own business, Haddow worked for eight years at Greer, Margolis, Mitchell, Burns, winning a number of awards for her work - including a National Silver Anvil for Johnson and Johnson's National SAFEKIDS public relations campaign. Haddow began her career as an editor, reporter and ultimately news director for WWL-AM, a 24-hour all news station in New Orleans. While there, Haddow received more than 30 local, state and regional awards for her writing and reporting.
