Media Role on

Avian Influenza Control and

Pandemic Preparedness

why we are fighting the bird flu

battle

“Media stories that include

factual information on disease

symptoms, mortality and

infection rates leave readers with

a more accurate view of the

risks.” Mc Master University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Outbreak Communications

1. Rapid

2. Honest

3. Transparent

4. Updated

5. Participatory/ crowd-sourced

Adul

t

Schoo

l

kids

Comm.

Leaders

Comm.

Agents

What DO people know?

Source: UNICEF-TNS KAP Study 2008

Source: Balitbangkes KAP study 2007

“When a certain disease receives

repeated coverage in the

press, people tend to focus on it

and perceive it as a real threat”Meredith Young

Mc Master University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Adul

t

School

kids

Comm.

LeadersComm.

AgentsAlways

…

Do people DO what is necessary? ● Among poultry owner, there seems to be a significant improvement in

their way to handle poultry

Total

(Attribute was not

asked)

(Attribute was not

asked)

Source: UNICEF-TNS KAP Study

2008

“…public concern and media

coverage are strongly correlated with each other.”

Peter Sandman, Risk Communication expert, Princeton University

Kasus Flu Burung di

Indonesia TurunRabu, 29 Oktober 2008 | 22:08 WIB

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: Kasus

flu burung di Indonesia jumlahnya

menurun…

apresiasi kepada seluruh

masyarakat yang memberi

kontribusi atas menurunnya

jumlah kasus flu burung

tersebut. Apresiasi tersebut

terutama ditujukan kepada

keluarga-keluarga, rumah

tangga, anak-anak sekolah

dan masyarakat secara

umum.

Responsible reporting in public health

●To ensure that they are conveying

accurate information, not only about the

disease itself, but also about the way in

which it is spreading.

●Journalists must be able to probe beneath

the surface of what they are being told to

judge the robustness of the information

they are being given.

But…

“..Media coverage has died

down too quickly, and avian flu

hasn’t been hooked clearly

enough to pandemic and other

emerging and re-emerging

threat.”