Strengthening disaster reporting this Disaster Risk Reduction month

Indonesian journalists are being provided with training on natural disaster reporting through a joint Australia-Indonesia initiative this Disaster Risk Reduction month. The one-day training will take place in Santika Hotel, Yogyakarta tomorrow.

Journalists will learn ways to manage the challenges associated with disaster reporting, ethics and the important role of media during disasters.

“Indonesia is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, and the media plays a crucial role once a disaster has struck,” said The Australia – Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction (AIFDR), co-director Dr Matt Hayne.

“We need disaster reporting to communicate what’s happening on-the-ground to people, communities, governments and the world. This training is to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge they require to fulfil the crucial role they play out in the field,” said Dr. Hayne.

Disaster Risk Reduction month is celebrated every October in Indonesia.

This month, Australia has also supported workshops for school communities in West Sumatra to better prepare for natural disasters. In collaboration with Newspaper in Education Program - Jakarta Post Foundation, students in senior secondary schools in Padang and Padang Pariaman were encouraged to develop their own disaster preparedness plan for their schools.

The training course is being held by the Australian Government funded AIFDR and the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in partnership with Indonesia’s leading English newspaper, The Jakarta Post.

30 Indonesian journalists from Padang, Jakarta, Aceh and Yogyakarta are attending, with presentations from AIFDR, BNPB, the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), NatGeo and Pena Indonesia.

AIFDR is a five-year $67 million partnership between AusAID and BNPB to strengthen Indonesia’s ability to prepare and manage the impact of disasters and create a more disaster resilient region.

Media inquiries:
Rendy Djauhari, AusAID Public Affairs, +62 811 190 4823