1. Reflecting or Directing Perceptions? Changing media responses to disasters in tourism destinations Sue Beeton La Trobe University, Australia

2. Disasters ► Internally ‘controllable’ accidents & incidents  Negligence  Disease/illness ► External accidents & incidents  Natural disasters  Political/terrorist activities  Violent crime  Disease

3. Influence of “news” media ► Disasters make good stories  Especially in places visited by the nationals of the reporting country ► Major tourist generating regions ► News media has strong currency in terms of perceptions of ‘truth’

4. Changes in Disaster Reporting ► Since Sept 11, 2002 ► More stories on the importance of tourism in the recovery process ► Stories encouraging visitors to return

5. Selected Fox News Reports ► U.N.: Tsunami Worst Catastrophe for Tourism - Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — The top U.N. tourism official called Asia's tsunami (search) the worst-ever catastrophe for the world's... U.N.: Tsunami Worst Catastrophe for Tourism U.N.: Tsunami Worst Catastrophe for Tourism ► U.N.: 800,000 Need Food Aid in Aceh - Monday, January 31, 2005 - LAMREH, Indonesia — Nearly 800,000 people will need food aid in Indonesia's Aceh (search) province in the aftermath of the devastating... U.N.: 800,000 Need Food Aid in Aceh U.N.: 800,000 Need Food Aid in Aceh ► Indonesia Lowers Death Toll, Ups Missing - Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia's Health Ministry on Tuesday lowered its death toll from last month's tsunami (search) after changing... Indonesia Lowers Death Toll, Ups Missing Indonesia Lowers Death Toll, Ups Missing ► Environmentalists Surf Tsunami Tragedy - Monday, January 03, 2005 - Environmental activists are shamelessly trying to exploit last week's earthquake-tsunami catastrophe in hopes of advancing their global... Environmentalists Surf Tsunami Tragedy Environmentalists Surf Tsunami Tragedy ► Tsunami Death Toll Tops 119,000 - Thursday, December 30, 2004 - BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Pilots dropped food to Indonesian villagers stranded among bloating corpses Thursday, while police in a... Tsunami Death Toll Tops 119,000 Tsunami Death Toll Tops 119,000 ► Thai Tourism Industry Devastated - Thursday, December 30, 2004 - PHUKET, Thailand — Of the 12 million tourists who visited Thailand this year, many headed straight to the gems of the south to soak up... Thai Tourism Industry Devastated Thai Tourism Industry Devastated

6. ► There is evidence of a shift in how disasters, accidents and incidents at tourist destinations are reported in the news media ► Also Fox News is extremely selective as to which events are reported and the extent and nature of the reporting

7. More Research Needed…. ► Is disaster reporting driven by type of incident?  Natural, man-made, internal, external OR ► Is Fox News reflecting a change in awareness of the role tourism can play in disaster recovery?

8. More Research Needed…. ► Are they being forced to alter their news reporting due to independent nature of emerging technologies? ► Which groups are most influenced by news media organisations such as Fox?

9. In conclusion… So, is the news media GOOD or BAD? So, is the news media GOOD or BAD? Are they reflecting community perceptions or directing them? Are they reflecting community perceptions or directing them?