Hazards Communication in the Age of Social Media: Now, Now, Now!

Date: 4/25/2019

Time: 10:45 AM

Room: Vashon

Social media (SM) can be a powerful instrument for dissemination of hazards information before, during and after hazard events. However, in order to fully capitalize on the capability of SM, the hazards community must recognize and address issues within the current science communication landscape.

The rapid expansion of SM has changed hazards communication in three fundamental ways: 1) the expected timescale of information dissemination, 2) the role of traditional media as information gatekeepers, and 3) the “experts” who are communicating with the public. Previously, there was a time lag between the event and expectation of an official response, which came from reporting agencies through traditional media channels. Now, the public and other stakeholders expect information in real time. The difference between the expectation for information dissemination and the time it takes agencies to collect, vet and distribute the information creates an information void, which is often filled with speculation, misinformation and bad advice. This misinformation propagates, in part, because traditional media are no longer the information gatekeepers who determine what to cover and who should be deemed an “expert”. Now, anyone can share information on SM, which makes it is more difficult for consumers to determine who is a true expert, what information they should believe, and what advice they should follow. While individual scientists have stepped up to fill the void, scientists generally aren’t trained in communication, which can lead to a host of potential issues including inappropriate framing, unintended and seemingly contradictory media narratives, and interviews seen as cold, callous or unfeeling.

While these issues are challenging, there are things the scientific community can do to improve hazards communication including 1) communication training , 2) best practice documents, and 3) more interdisciplinary collaborations between hazards scientists and social scientists.

Presenting Author: Wendy Bohon

Authors