Media Responds to Asian Tsunami Disaster

Many media outlets and organizations are taking on aid projects in response to the Asian tsunami disaster. We are frequently updating a running digest of media response to this disaster as reported by our colleagues and correspondents. On this page we will attempt to add both information and requests for information. Much of this information is incomplete and we will attempt to organize the information by organization and country and update when possible. As information is added, sources will be included. The RSS feed will be date and time stamped to notify those users when updates are available. Because span robots regularly troll web pages we will NOT post email addresses. However, we will forward requests posted to the page. Comments posted to Conversations may be added to the site and they may be edited for clarity.

Jonathan Marks has created a very comprehensive and useful Wiki site for collecting and organizing information about support from all parts of the globe for broadcasters in the region. If you are new to the Wiki concept, it's participative. So, get to it! http://www.tsunamihelp.info/wiki/index.php/Broadcasters

P4 RADIO - Oslo Norway

We took several actions after the tsunami. I don't know if you are looking for programming changes or moneyrising, but this is a short list of some of the most important things we did:
- The same morning we sent two newsreporters to the area fully equiped for broadcasting home with perfect sound quality.
- We rescheduled all music discarding obvious songs like the norwegian hit "Hodet over vannet" (head above water) and turned the overall musictempo down.
- We did a lot of breaking news and extra newsbroadcasts, transmitting most of the official pressconferences live.
- We offered commercial space to moneyrising organisations for free
- Monday January 3rd we started "P4 Bedriftsstafett" (something like "P4 Company relay"). Norwegian companies was asked to give money and then suggest the next company we should call. We rised over 1 million Norwegian kroners this way (125.000 euro). P4 added 1 Norwegian kroner for each of our daily listeners (1 million), giving a total of more than 2 million kroners (250.000 euro).

Rune Hafskjær P4 Radio

SLAGER RADIO - Budapest Hungary

“Last Monday (3 January), Slager Radio's morning team 'Bumerang' suggested on the air that they would like to get a plane load of listeners to go with them to help the tsunami victims in Asia. Immediately they were swamped with calls and SMS's from people who wanted to either donate their time or money. Many companies also began to donate a variety of services from medicine, food and water. By Wednesday of that week the Hungarian government offered to pick up the cost of the charter airplane that will take almost 200 people to Sri Lanka to help clean-up and rebuild a village. Currently over 700 people have offered to go on the one-week trip with Bumerang. Donations are pouring in to help cover the cost to build a new home which comes to roughly $1,000 per home. Other companies continue to donate money to cover expenses related to the trip which is currently scheduled to take place later in February. Every day more and more individuals, companies and service organizations are calling Slager asking how they can get involved. Even one of the commercial tv stations wants to accompany the group and produce a 30 minute special on the project. All in all a great example of the Hungarian heart and the power of radio and Bumerang.”

Barbara Brill Vice Chairwoman General Manager Slager Radio

CRCA UK

“A number of Commercial Radio groups have decided to launch jointly a single day fund raising venture for the Tsunami appeal. They are Capital, Chrysalis, Emap, GMG, GWR, SRH, Unique and Virgin. They have appointed Emap’s Mark Story to chair the many interests who have come together to make the venture possible. They have asked CRCA to provide administrative support to the team that is pulling the event together and to do what it can to persuade all UK Commercial Radio stations to participate.”

Paul Brown CRCA via Christina Sleszynska at AER

BBC WORLD SERVICE

“The December 26th earthquake under the Indian Ocean prompted one of the largest news efforts ever undertaken by the BBC with correspondents deployed on an unprecedented scale. It is probably the biggest story since 9/11 and in many ways, more challenging because of the huge area affected, parts of which are now inaccessible.

“The first reports on BBC World Service were broadcast at 02.30 GMT on Boxing Day after the tsunami struck out of the blue. Our Bangladesh correspondent Roland Buerk was on holiday in Sri Lanka. He and his wife were swept away by the wave but once he was safe he provided eyewitness reports with the help of another tourist's mobile phone. English correspondents were supported by 50 local journalists working for the World Service language services and reports came in from across the affected region - Indonesia, Thailand, India, Burma, Bangladesh and Somalia.

“Within hours of the waves striking, emailed pleas from people wanting to find their friends and loved ones prompted the BBC to launch notice boards for missing people. More than two million people looked at these pages and several families were reunited.

“In Sri Lanka, Roland Buerk was joined by three more correspondents the day after the tsunami struck and a week later our Tehran correspondent (former Sri Lanka correspondent) Frances Harrison went to the north of the island in the Tamil controlled area to bring vivid accounts of the situation in this inaccessible, war ravaged territory.

“The largest BBC newsgathering effort was concentrated in Indonesia where the thousands victims reported first turned into tens of thousands with many villages and towns totally obliterated. Our Jakarta correspondent Rachel Harvey and three correspondents normally based in Tokyo, Singapore and Kabul reached Aceh and some of its most inaccessible areas. They reported continuously on the tsunami effect, the aid effort, the international involvement.

“Menuk Suwondo, Head of the Indonesian Service, is one of many World Service journalists who have been waiting for news of friends and colleagues as she covered the story each day. Early on she received a message from a reporter at one of the BBC’s partner stations in Banda Aceh which said: “I am alive but the rest of the team are missing.”

“As the days went by we continued to be preoccupied not only by efforts to provide coverage of the disaster but also desperate efforts to track down our local colleagues. We are still searching today,” Menuk said.

“Later another BBC correspondent Jonathan Charles reached the remote Indian islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Reports and interviews from other areas like the Maldives and even Somalia figured in comprehensive coverage.

“Landmark programmes like Newshour and Talking Point were extended while several of the language services extended news coverage to bring the latest information to listeners in the stricken areas. This was a human story of gigantic proportions where the "common man" is the victim and the hero, the sufferer and the helper. This is what our correspondents have tried to convey, this is what the thousands of people e-mailing us, talking to us have said.

“As this is not a story that will be going away soon continuing to cover all its aspects, social, economic, political will be the real test. But the BBC is in a good position to rise to the challenge with its network of reporters and correspondents.

“Schedule changes/special programming: Rolling news on the following schedules (all times in GMT): • 26 December 0959 – 1400 - East Asia schedule and news schedule • 26 December 1030 – 1400 - South Asia schedule and news schedule • 27 December 1930 – 28 December 0800 - East Asia, South Asia and news schedule • 28 December 1930 – 29 December 0800 - East Asia, South Asia and news schedule • 29 December 1200 – 30 December 1200 – East Asia schedule and news schedule 31 December 2004 Talking Point Special at 1330 – 1400 GMT (All schedules) Prog billing: Robin Lustig will be joined by John Davidson of Christian Aid in a special edition of Talking Point. We want to hear your experiences and your reactions to the massive relief effort that is now underway following the devastating tsunami, which has so far claimed more than 125,000 lives. How has this disaster affected you? Are you in the region? And how just effective is the aid effort? 2 January 2005 Disaster in Asia: The Week that Shocked the World at 1300 – 1400 (All schedules) rpt at 1800 – 1900 (All schedules except PRI) Prog billing: BBC World Service brings you a special news programme looking at the impact of the Indian Ocean earthquake. We'll hear how the story unfolded from those caught up in it and how the world has responded to the biggest natural disaster in history. Owen Bennett Jones and BBC correspondents across the region from Indonesia to Sri Lanka assess the relief effort and ask how these countries can recover. Could history offer a lesson to these devastated communities? 2 January 2005 - Talking Point Special at 1400 – 1500 GMT (All schedules) Prog billing: A week on since the massive earthquake triggered tsunami waves that killed so many people and we'll be talking to survivors, politicians and aid workers in the region. What can be done to prevent such a catastrophe in the future and how effective is the international relief effort? Presented by Roger Hearing Indonesian Service On the 26 December the service dropped all their magazine programmes and dedicated all transmissions to the Tsunami coverage. From the 27 December – 3 January the magazines programme were resumed but with the topic adjusted to tsunami related issues. The service has had a producer/reporter on the ground in Banda Aceh since the disaster hit and will continue to so until about the 20th January.

“Indonesian Service FM partners in Banda Aceh:

• Radio Prima FM in Banda Aceh Station and its facilities: 80% damaged Broadcast capability: It’s in the process of setting up basic broadcast facilities (with the help of NGOs on the ground). It’s expected to resume broadcast next week. Staff: 10 survivors, 1 confirmed dead, 10 are still missing, 11 are thought to be alive but have not reported to the station.

• Radio Dalka FM in Meulaboh Station and its facilities: badly damaged Broadcast capability: ceased Staff: The station’s director has contacted the BBC, but he has not heard from any of his team.

• Radio Adyemaja in Lhokseumawe Station and its facilities: damaged Broadcast capability: It has resumed a very limited broadcast, including the BBC’s Indonesian transmissions. Staff: all survive

• Radio Megaphone in Sigli: Station and its facilities: badly damaged Broadcast capability: ceased Staff: 3 survive, 9 are still missing Tamil Service All regular features programmes and the regular programme format were suspended and given over to the Tsunami disaster, until the 5th January

“Our south India correspondent Sampath Kumar was rushed to the affected coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and other stringers in Sri Lanka were rushed to their respected regions to cover the disaster from the ground.

“The Tamil Services partner SLBC could not be contacted as all the telephone lines were down in Colombo so it was decided to transmit the additional transmissions via SW. Feedback was very good as evidenced by the listener’s emails and telephone calls to our Chennai office. bbctamil.com - page impressions surged by nearly 800% on the 26/27 December registering nearly 65000 hits each day (the site normally receives approximately 8000 hits per day). The website is still receiving nearly double traffic as normal on most days.

“Thai Service • The service kept to their normal transmission times, but changed the running order and content of the programmes to reports from various locations effected by the disaster and other Tsunami related stories • An extra producer from London to back up their Bangkok producer who went to Phuket to report • As far as we know none of the partners in Thailand were affected

“BBC World Service Partners in the effected area: • Bangladesh – 12 hours of English and the Bengali service transmission are carried on 100 FM in Dhaka • India – 24 hours on cable in Mumbai and on Worldspace across India • Indonesia – 80+ FM partners (all take the Indonesian transmissions apart from Smart FM Jakarta who carry a selection of English output) across the country • Sri Lanka – SLBC national network in English plus Tamil and Sinhala transmissions are carried • Thailand – 60+ FM partners across the country.

“Fundraising: Staff at the World Service have embarked on many private fundraising initiatives which are being well supported – eg music events, raffles, CD sales, etc”

via Helen Wilson BBC World Service Asia and Pacific Region

INTERNEWS

“Internews Europe is coordinating with colleagues in Sri Lanka and Aceh, a province of Indonesia, to re-establish communications after the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami left many areas disconnected from the outside world.

“Internews, with headquarters in Paris, has several offices in Southeast Asia. While the buildings were untouched, the devastation has been personal. One staff member lost 15 members of his family. Five survived.

“Internews is appealing for donations to help rebuild media outlets there. One newspaper lost 65 percent of its staff and radio stations are down. Internews is a nonprofit organization that works to improve information access for people around the world by helping foster independent media and open communication policies.

“The organisation has sent four "suitcase" 30-watt FM radio stations, computers, cell phones and phone cards to get communications up. It is also providing stipends to local journalists.

“Internews is one of several organizations suggesting a text-messaging system be set up to warn when earthquakes or other emergencies occur in the region. Such a mechanism might have saved as many as half the people who perished in the tsunami.”

via Gerd Greune - Internews Europe

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

“The special Tsunami site aimed at the general public is now online at: http://europa.eu.int/tsunami/index_en.htm

“For the moment, the notable features are that it contains articles on ECHO's actions so far, the actions of NGOs and the huge public reaction across the EU. These articles will be updated regularly. We also have an article on the ASEAN Summit and will add more on Civil Protection, European Investment Bank, RELEX, the extraordinary GAERC, trade etc. on a daily basis.

“We will just write about the genuine reaction of citizens all across Europe and show that European people are playing their part in meeting a global crisis.

“Other things to note are that we are inviting NGO's to contact us if they want to be listed on our page and we have included a 'Donate' button on the site which points to the UN website. This is probably the first time the Commission has done this.”

Jennifer Hutton - European Commission Representation in the UK

Slager Radio - Budapest Hungary

“Here are the details of what is happening so far:

“Slager Radio's morning team, Boomerang, (also the #1 morning show in Hungary) started last Monday to talk on the air about their desire to get a plane of Hungarian to help with the disaster areas in Asia due to the tsunami. Immediately the phone calls and sms's came flooding in from people who wanted to help and or give money. A Dr. from Sri Lanka called in and was on the air. He spoke about the need to rebuild villages that have been erased by the tsunami. Medical companies also started calling and offering supplies. By Friday there was also a pledge by the Hungarian government to cover the cost of the airplane and over 100 people have volunteered to go the Sri Lanka and help build homes.

“This aid drive is still a work in progress and the exact location and timing of the trip won't be finalized until this week. The good news is that it will happen and that there has been such a strong outpouring of support by the Hungarian people towards the victims of the tsunami.”

Barbara Brill Vice Chairwoman General Manager Slager Radio

Internews - Sri Lanka

“I've recently arrived here and am just beginning my research. I met several private broadcasters today and they have been generally changed their programming to support these efforts, but they haven't gone into detail on it yet. I'll be talking to government media later today, and tomorrow headed south to see what's happened to media there, and what kind of response is in place. One challenge is that in much of the east, where the greatest damage is, there is little in the way of local media.

“There is in general not much that I've seen thus far happening from other support. I've read something about the Australians, but haven't seen evidence of them yet. Of course I've been here less than 48 hours, so I will hopefully know a lot more in the next few days, and will be happy to share it.

“Likewise I would be grateful for any information or contacts that you have.”

Ivan Sigal - Internews

68H RADIO/MDLF - Indonesia

"Indonesian radio network 68H is already working on getting four stations in Aceh up and running. At MDLF, we're taking donations for 68H through our Digital Kiosk (http://kiosk.mdlf.org/estore/publisher?id=28).

"Here's the story from their website: 68H To Rebuild Four Radio Stations in Aceh

On Thursday, 6 January 2005, Radio News Agency 68H will send a radio technical team along with necessary equipment to rebuild radio stations destroyed in the tsunami in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.

In Phase One, the first station to be re-established is Radio Prima, previously broadcast in Banda Aceh on 99,9 FM. At the same time, the 68H technical team will assist in the setting up of a community radio station to be managed by activists from Muhamadiyah.

The aim of this initiative is to restore communications among the inhabitants of Banda Aceh and provide a means of healing and education post-disaster. 68H hopes that through the rebuilt radio stations, those living in Aceh can get information about their missing relatives.

In order to increase the effectiveness of the radio broadcasts, 68H plans to place radios and speakers in 70 refugee centres in Banda Aceh. This will enable refugees to hear news about the situation in Aceh and elsewhere, especially important given that most radios were lost in the tsunami.

In Phase Two, 68H plans to rebuild Radio Dalka in Meulaboh, and Radio Megaphone in Sigli.

As well as rebuilding radio stations, 68H is also concentrating efforts on building pump wells to access clean water. This clean water program is being funded by contributions from 68H listeners to our "We Care For Aceh" appeal.

For more information, contact: Santoso, Director 68H, 08111-49916"

68H Radio/MDLF via Jonathan Marks

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

"The European Commission's spokesman's service has created a special press pack for journalists which is available online at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/press_room/presspacks/tsunami_asia/index_en.htm and will continue to be regularly updated. Otherwise, an automatic alert system can be created to have all "tsunami" related press releases emailed directly to journalists, see: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/setLanguage.do?language=en.

"In addition, the Commission services are also working on another website "Tsunami disaster - European solidarity" which should be up and running shortly. This will give access to information regarding humanitarian aid work being carried out bythe European Commission's ECHO team, as well the UN and other NGOs, together with information concerning member states' reactions and yesterday's special ASEAN meeting."

Jennifer Hutton - European Commission Representation in the UK

RADIO NETHERLANDS - Netherlands

"Many staff of radio stations in Aceh, journalistic colleagues of the Radio Netherlands Indonesian department, people with whom Radio Netherlands had regular contact, are missing. Some stations in Aceh with which Radio Netherlands had worked for many years have been totally destroyed.

Radio Netherlands is starting an action program to set up a number of emergency radio stations, which will in due course be built up into permanent stations. One of the stations that was destroyed is Radio Nikoya FM in Banda Aceh, that used to broadcast news in Indonesian from Radio Netherlands on a daily basis.

The Head of the Indonesian department of Radio Netherlands, Indra Titus, said "We want to help to get the radio stations back on the air, because radio is a very important means of communication in the stricken areas. As help is beginning to flow, communications must be restored to help the search for family members and make information accessible. Even under normal circumstances, radio in Indonesia is a vital means of communication that people cannot be without."

Also, Radio Netherlands will appeal to its 6000 partner stations around the world to collect money and equipment."

Marjolein Hulse Radio Netherlands

HIT RADIO FFH - Germany

"Together with the Prime Minister and the Association of Newspapers we are collecting money. Beside this we ask for money for the different Help-Organizations (Red Cross / Unicef). This runs since December 27th.
We followed the EU-Initiative for minutes of silence also on the radio - last Wednesday at 12 o ´clock.
We changed our programmes, dropped contests, etc."

Hans-Dieter Hillmuth via Christina Sleszynska at AER

SLAGER RADIO - Hungary

"Our morning show at Sláger in Hungry has a relief project going."

Paul Fiddick Emmis International

INTERNEWS - Indonesia

"Might they have resources to help? Do they fancy adopting a devastated radio station or providing much needed new studio or field recording equipment for urgent information that needs to get out to people? Its disastrous: there is very little public info available in Aceh. In Meuloboh in the west, all 6 stations have been washed away. Our partners (5 of them) from Banda Aceh to Lhokseumawe are destroyed. Journalists, producers, owners all without livelihoods and for the moment, without a future to look forward to. We'd like to give them temporary small salaries so they can survive, we'd like to help rebuild transmitters, studios and the radio communities that are needed so that people can again, communicate, find each other, get urgent health information and find out where the relief aid is.

"If your friends would like to help journalists they are more than welcome to do so - we would be so very grateful. We are sending teams out as I said earlier and will be seeking to assist local media, so if they would like to channel through us that would be fine - we have a Paris and Brussels office that can help facilitate.

"One other thing that could be extremely useful is the fully paid resources of people to come and help us rebuild - do you have engineers, studio technicians or even community radio gurus with excellent teaching and communication skills who could come, self sufficient and paid, to join our teams who will be working on this over the next few months? The task is huge, we could definitely use the help of confident, able folks who are able to work in difficult environments, without complaint, with enthusiasm and with an experienced international team of media development people - us at Internews! We have our own infrastructure out here in Indonesia - staff, office etc but will be looking for people to come in for short stints to help meet this enormous challenge."

Kathleen Reen Internews Indonesia

RADIO AUSTRALIA - Australia

"Jean-Gabriel Manguy, General Manager of Radio Australia, who is anxiously waiting for contact from his older brother in southern India, says that greater transmission capacity for Radio Australia would not have helped the station warn people of the tsunami, because no warnings were received that could have been broadcast. But the availability of more transmission hours would have been useful in the aftermath and during rescue and relief operations.

"Until 1997, Radio Australia had a 24-hour shortwave service audible in Indonesia and other parts of Asia. But its budget was cut by half in 1997 - currently A$13.5 million - and now has a staff of just 76. Shortwave services were partly restored in 2000, and Radio Australia is also available through 155 FM stations in Asia. Thirty of those are in Indonesia and reach an estimated seven million listeners."

Jonathan Marks

FONDATION HIRONDELLE - Switzerland

"We are involved with supporting the public service station of Timor Leste..."

Dario Baroni, Fondation Hirondelle