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Risk Media hub

A toolkit for news media professionals reporting on disasters and resilience

As climate risks are manifesting far sooner and with greater intensity than expected, never before has mankind faced such an array of interconnected risks.

The toolkit provides an array of resources to help journalists tell the other side of the disaster story and raise critical questions to help societies become more resilient: What are the drivers of risk? How can development and policy decisions either increase or reduce risks? How do disaster risks cascade across borders and all sectors of society? Why do disasters discriminate and inflict the worst impact on the most vulnerable? And most importantly: How can countries and communities reduce risk and build resilience? 

From raising awareness to demanding accountability, journalism can help save lives before, during, and after disasters.

Covering disasters from a different lens: The course

This course provides journalists and media professionals with a comprehensive foundation in disaster risk reduction and practical guidance for reporting in ways that increase risk understanding, empower communities, and build resilience.

The free, self-paced online course introduces core concepts of disaster risk reduction, including hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience. Drawing on real-world examples and current global trends, it explains what drives disaster risk, including rapid urbanization, inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change, and explores why certain groups are more affected when hazards strike.

To access the course:

  1. Create an account on SparkBlue here.
  2. Enroll in Covering disasters from a different lens.
a hand holding binoculors

Through ten interactive modules and an activity with the Stop Disasters game, the course builds the skills needed for coverage that goes beyond immediate impacts and put the spotlight on underlying risks, vulnerability, and opportunities for reducing future disaster losses.

Disaster risk in the news

Follow the latest research and trends on disaster risk and learn about projects and solutions across the world to reduce risk and increase resilience.

Model disaster preparedness and response plan for media institutions thumbnail
Model disaster preparedness and response plan for media institutions
The Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions is designed to empower every media institution, large or small, public or private, to develop or improve its own disaster preparedness and response plan. As the first comprehensive blueprint of its kind, developed with global expertise, it helps the media become institutionally prepared to cope with emergencies and better contribute to strengthening community resilience through their work.

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Why report on disaster risk?

Not only do the media play a critical role in disseminating life-saving early warnings, they also help focus attention, set the agenda for public discussion, influence political decisions and public attitudes.

11 reasons to report on DRR
The media shape how the public perceives the risks posed by hazards; these perceptions in turn influence individual and collective choices for risk reduction.
Ethics
Guidance on navigating ethical issues journalists may face when covering disasters.

Tools and resources

array of tools
Useful tools and resources to support media reporting on disaster risk.
Disaster losses & statistics
While absolute economic losses are concentrated in high-income countries, the human cost of disasters falls overwhelmingly on low and middle-income countries.
Image and video resources
The United Nations maintains different image and video resource databases that can be used by the media to illustrate stories about disaster risk.

Understanding disaster risk

Man reading a book
Deepen your understanding of disaster risk and hazards.
What is disaster risk
Disaster risk is expressed as the likelihood of loss of life, injury or destruction and damage from a disaster in a given period of time.
The business case for DRR
Investing in disaster risk reduction (DRR) saves lives and money and future-proofs our development gains.
Core concepts
Explore key concepts to support the research and writing of in-depth articles and analysis.
Risk drivers
Risk is influenced by the decisions we make. From climate change to poor urban planning, it is critical to understand and address risk drivers to curb disaster risk.
Terminology on DRR
The Sendai Framework terminology aims to promote a common understanding and usage of disaster risk reduction concepts.
Hazards gateway
Learn about common hazards, the latest research on risk trends and solutions to reduce their impact.
Learning from past disasters
Explore insights and analysis from past disasters to cover disaster anniversaries or provide contrasting perspectives on current disaster events.
illustration
Disaster risk solutions
The case studies on this page encompass a wide range of practical disaster risk reduction measures, including early warning systems, community-based initiatives, green and grey infrastructure improvements, policy implementations, and innovative technologies that have been applied and proven effective in real-world scenarios.
Access the solutions

Media resources

View our selection of resources and guidance for media covering disaster risk.

View the full collection

Further resources

Reporter holding microphone interview in a heavy flooding situation in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand.
About this hub
Why we made this resource for journalists, bloggers, and other media professionals interested in covering DRR and related topics.
UNDRR
About PreventionWeb
PreventionWeb is the global knowledge sharing platform for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience.
Young people wearing face mask using mobile phone keeping social distance
Advocacy and media
PreventionWeb's content on advocacy and awareness raising of disaster risk reduction (DRR) including through traditional and new media.
Concept of colourful speech bubbles
Risk communication
Resources to help communications professionals develop effective strategies and craft compelling content about disaster risk.

Hazards do not have to turn into disasters.

To break the vicious cycle of "Disaster, respond, recover, repeat.", we need a better understanding of disaster risk, in all its dimensions.