The international response to the Haiti earthquake has shown, more than any crisis efforts to date, how media and coordinated information distribution saves lives.

Systematic research and audience surveys of more than 11,000 respondents in Haiti conducted by Internews clearly show that coordinated messages from relief groups continue to provide survivors with critical, life-saving information. As part of this effort, Internews, which was among the first international groups to begin post-quake operations, has produced more than 250 radio programs in Creole through its daily humanitarian information broadcast Enfomasyon Nou Dwe Konnen (ENDK – News You Can Use). The radio packages are produced by a team of local Haitian journalists and hand-delivered on CD each day to 41 radio stations in and around Port-au-Prince.

Audience surveys show that in February, one month after ENDK’s inception, 80% of participants knew of the radio program. By July, that figure reached 100%, making it one of the most powerful and effective means of information distribution in the country.

More importantly, survey recipients were able to identify key pieces of information from the broadcast that they had integrated into their daily lives, such as how to protect oneself during earthquake aftershocks or hurricanes, how to properly set up a tent for maximum protection against the elements, and how to prevent diarrheal diseases such as cholera by washing hands regularly and only drinking potable water.

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“Radio has always been important in crisis situations around the world, and Haiti was no different, although the challenges were immense in helping stations get back on the air and reporters back into newsrooms,” said Mark Frohardt, Vice-President of Humanitarian Media for Internews. “This programming filled an immediate vacuum after the quake, and continues to play a crucial role in coordinating news that goes out to the public, as well as information from the public back to relief groups, governments and donors.”

Part of that communication has been bolstered by the unprecedented scope of the use of new media technologies in Haiti relief efforts. A new report funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, “Media, Information Systems and Communities: Lessons from Haiti” clearly shows that Haiti became the first real-world response in which such new technologies, coupled with more traditional media, helped save lives.

Among the innovations cited are:

• Relief workers crowd-sourced information – and acted on it: Reports of trapped people and medical emergencies collected by text were plotted on an online map then used by relief workers. In one example, the U.S. Marines brought water and sanitation devices to a camp after receiving reports that drinking water was in short supply.
• SMS texts broadcast critical information to Haitians: Cell phone companies, relief groups and media created and used the code 4636 to send messages to tens of thousands about important public health issues.
• Volunteers created open-source maps as guides: Using handheld GPS devices, volunteers created up-to-date maps to help guide humanitarian groups and the public trying to navigate affected areas.

The report cautioned against calling the Haitian experience a “new-media success story,” considering that much remains to be learned in how to effectively use such tools. The report also notes that radio, long a dominant media in crises around the world, remained a strong and effective tool to disseminate critical information to survivors.

“In the developing world, traditional media such as radio will continue to be crucial in informing the public in a crisis,” Frohardt said. “New media plays an exciting role, and the challenge will be to ensure that these new tools are developed and used in an ever-more coordinated way among relief workers, governments and donors for maximum effect.”

Download the Report

Media, Information Systems and Communities: Lessons from HAITI 

Specific recommendations 

This week, Internews is organising presentations for the press in Hotel Montana, Port-au-Prince including a briefing on the above by Internews’ Director of Research, Dr Jennifer Mandel. Major humanitarian and development partners will introduce briefings and presentations on the challenges faced by Haiti. For a detailed briefing schedule contact: Stéphanie Renauld-Armand stephanie@endk.org +509 3442 0841

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and it invests in communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has granted more than $400 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote informed and engaged communities and lead to transformational change.

For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org/