Storm surge, tsunami, other disaster terms should be simplified

Media practitioners from Mindanao agreed to have a glossary of terms regarding natural disasters in the hope of avoiding Tacloban-like scenarios wherein people were warned but mostly did not understand about storm surge that will hit their town.

During the 9th Mindanao Media Summit held April 25 to 26, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City, media practitioners—both in broadcast and print agreed that they will have a common understanding on the usage of words that will help them in delivering effectively the news to their audience.

Aside from that, media practitioners are also aiming to have training on how to protect themselves in times of disasters where most of them are working to gather and deliver the news.

Froilan Gallardo of MindaNews quipped that the media is a vulnerable sector especially in times of disasters. While everyone is avoiding the scene of the disasters, media people are going straight to the scene to get the news and deliver it to people who want to be aware of what’s happening.

He recounted that some media practitioners from Iligan and Cagayan have lost their families during the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong since they left their families to work not knowing that their houses will be hit by the flood that claimed thousands of lives.

During the Mindanao Media Summit, PIA XI Director Efren Elbanbuena said he will lobby for free flu vaccination for media practitioners in the region and in Mindanao since media practitioners are exposed to health risks while they are at work.

The 9th Mindanao Media Summit was participated in by media practitioners and government information officers from all over Mindanao and reflected on the theme: Communicating the Impact of Climate Change in Mindanao. (@johnfrancesf)