KUCHING: 34 media practitioners are attending a three-day workshop on ‘effective disaster reporting’ jointly organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) and the United States Embassy at Hilton Hotel here yesterday.
The programme was launched by the Press Attache of the US Embassy, Morgan J. O’Brien.
Earlier, MPI Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Chamil Wariya in his welcoming remarks said the workshop aimed to expose the participants to the importance of journalists relaying accurate and verified information when covering disasters and to give some tips on safety while reporting.
He said the programme also hoped to foster cooperation between the media practitioners and the relevant authorities crucial to disaster reporting.
He pointed out that covering disaster-related events required all of a reporter’s training and experience because they must gather information at the scene under very difficult circumstances and produce stories on very tight deadlines.
“It is with this in mind that this workshop is held – to give basic insight in reporting disasters and accidents. Hopefully, at the end of the programme, the participants will appreciate that covering disasters is not an easy task,” he said.
Meanwhile, Morgan J. O’Brien stated the media have the potential to save other people’s lives and they should be proud of their work.
Besides talks by various relevant authorities, the workshop also includes field visits to a Fire and Rescue Department operations room, the Sarawak State Disaster Operations Room and the Sarawak General Hospital.
