A new chapter in shaping a disaster-prepared media sector is being launched by UNESCO
UNESCO is introducing a practical tool designed to reinforce disaster preparedness while promoting public interest reporting on risks and emergencies.
The Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions, is developed for media institutions of all types and sizes. This first global blueprint of its kind provides an actionable framework that can be adapted to diverse contexts.
A blueprint built with media and disaster experts
The journey to create this new resource began in 2024, driven by a commitment to fortify media resilience globally, and in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).
Through research and consultations with media organizations, disaster management specialists, regional broadcasting unions and sister UN agencies, including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Model Plan reflects the realities experienced by newsrooms in the world’s disaster-prone regions. It responds to the gaps and needs identified during this process.
The Model Plan provides step-by-step guidance for creating a comprehensive institutional framework across multiple operational and editorial areas. From standard operating procedures to editorial policies that uphold accurate and ethical disaster reporting, its design can be tailored to national and local contexts.
As a scalable solution, the Model Plan is suitable for large broadcasters as well as small local outlets, whether broadcast, print or digital. A set of customizable annexes, such as templates and worksheets, accompanies the document to support practical implementation.
Global launch in Sri Lanka
The global unveiling of the Model Plan took place on 26 November 2025, at the 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The UNESCO Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan gives the media sector the framework to move from reaction to preparation, from vulnerability to resilience.
Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO
The launch grounded this new resource in the real-world experiences of media representatives from different regions. Participants were introduced to case studies dissecting the status quo of the state of media preparedness worldwide.
An expert panel with representatives of media, disaster management authorities, civil society, UNDRR and UNESCO examined the growing need for dedicated support for media in disaster management, and types of partnerships that can be forged.
Participants then moved into practical sessions, where they put the Model Plan to the test. Working through simulated disaster scenarios, they translated theories into specific action points.
A leap forward
This launch marks the beginning of a wider effort to embed disaster preparedness within media institutions. In the months and years ahead, UNESCO will continue bolstering media organizations as they apply the Model Plan, and develop their own disaster preparedness and response plans.
Capacity development initiatives will further strengthen editorial capacities for effective disaster and climate reporting, and foster collaborations between the media and other sectors.
Visit the dedicated webpage to access the Model Plan in multiple languages, and discover case studies demonstrating success stories and lessons learned from newsrooms across different regions.
Media institutions and support organizations around the world are encouraged to apply this tool in their own contexts, and to share their success stories with UNESCO.