The 2014 UP TWSC Public Lecture Series on Natural Disasters Lecture 1-- Communicating Risks, Risking Miscommunication: Mass Media and the Science of Natural Disasters

The 2014 UP TWSC Public Lecture Series on Natural Disasters 

Lecture 1

Communicating Risks, Risking Miscommunication: 

Mass Media and the Science of Natural Disasters

Wednesday 3 September 2014, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Pulungang Claro M. Recto, Bulwagang Rizal (Faculty Center),

University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Please click here for the audiovisual recording of the lecture.


PROGRAM

9:30 – 9:35      Opening Remarks

9: 35 – 9:40     Introduction of the Lecturer and Reactors


9:40 – 10:20    Lecturer

                           Garry Jay Montemayor
                           Chair, Department of Science Communication
                           College of Development Communication
                           University of the Philippines Los Baños

10:20 – 11:05    Reactors

                             Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz
                             GMA Resident Meteorologist and Former PAGASA Director

                             Shaira Panela
                             Freelance Science Journalist

                             Maria Luisa Bolinao
                             Professor, Department of History
                             College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
                             University of the Philippines Diliman

11:05 – 11:30    Open Forum

Moderator

Jely Galang
Deputy Director, Third World Studies Center and
Assistant Professor, Department of History
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of the Philippines Diliman

                                   

ABOUT THE LECTURE

When Typhoon Yolanda struck central Philippines, the public was steered in all directions in a tangle of terminologies. In the aftermath, government agencies had great difficulties defending their accurate forecasts over the lack of a clear explanation the public can understand. As a sign of admission, the Philippine  Atmospheric,  Geophysical  and  Astronomical  Services  Administration  (PAGASA),  the country’s weather agency, was quoted saying “more could have been done in explaining to the public the magnitude and gravity of a storm surge.” Malacañang was also quoted saying “perhaps [the government] could've communicated the danger better….“[we could've said] tsunami-like effect.” Be they warnings of a “storm surge” or a “tsunami,” the institutions the public turns to during natural disasters, it seemed, failed to reach out to an already wary and confused public. Accusations were hurled: If the people in Samar and Leyte have been warned against a tsunami, more lives would probably have been saved. The issue on semantics is not negligible, especially in times of natural disasters—when words in fact do save lives, as averred by one advocacy group on disaster risk management in the country. The surge in scale and occurrence of unprecedented risk from natural disasters points to the increasing importance of science communication, an emergent domain in the study and practice of development communication in the country. Science communication in the Philippines,  according  to  former  Dean  of  University  of  the  Philippines  Los  Baños  College  of Development  Communication  Dr.  Maria  Celeste  H.  Cadiz,  proceeds  from  the  communication  of scientific and technical information to a “cognizant…cultural process.” In describing the phenomena of natural disasters, science communication or the process of making science concepts popular and more comprehensible to various people through different media is gradually gaining currency and this is where the mass media comes to the fore as purveyor of eye-witness accounts. This is indicative of the Department of Science and Technology’s vision for science journalism in the country: “to popularize science through mass media and identify ways to bridge the communication gap between the scientists and the public.” The Center for Community Journalism and Development in the Philippines, however, reveals a still inchoate field of science communication in the country, particularly among the mass media: “low awareness and understanding of disaster risk and climate change concepts, plans, policies, programs and in some cases, even basic learning points such as definition of terms“are some of the factors that prevent the media from practicing an effective science communication of natural disasters. A quick Google search on the key words typhoon Yolanda would generate reports that mostly focus on casualties, destruction of properties, and foreign aid or donations. There are minimal reports on the science of the disaster and on why and how such disasters occur. How can we intimate an effective science communication of natural disasters in the country? What is the role of the mass media in the intrinsic relationship of science communication and natural disasters? How does the Philippine mass media situate itself as an active player in science communication as the country continues to be beset by natural disasters?

KEY QUESTIONS:

1. What is science communication? What is the role of the mass media in the intrinsic relationship of science communication and natural disasters?
2. How does the mass media situate itself as an active player in science communication and in reporting climate risks in particular? What is the current state of science journalism in the Philippines? Is there reluctance that science reporting will not sell to the public?
3. How can we describe the relations and dynamics of science communication among scientists, journalists, and the public in the Philippines?
4. How should “effective science communication” be conceptualized? Is it about increased public awareness of the issue? Or should it also aim for public engagement in disaster risk reduction and management? What ethical aspects should be considered by a science journalist?
5. Is there such a thing as Filipino science communication or do we just adopt "international standards"? How do we factor in cultural context/specificities? What is the future of climate risk reporting in the Philippines?                    

See link for the concept paper of the public lecture series. See link to view the lecturer's full presentation.