Harris County Texas Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of Disaster

While the media can help inform and educate you and your children about potential disasters, media coverage unfortunately also has the potential to upset and confuse. As parents, you can protect your children by helping them understand media coverage while limiting their exposure to distressing images.

The impact of media coverage will be different depending upon whether you are:

• A family currently evacuated viewing your home or neighborhood for the first time.
• A family who have loved ones in the affected area.
• A family who had been affected by a similar trauma in the past.
• A family not directly threatened, but who is viewing news about the impact on the community (loss of their home, belongings, pets, school or church buildings).

Children and families who suffer loss during the disaster are the most vulnerable to negative effects from excessive media viewing.

Understanding Media Exposure:

• Media coverage can produce increased fears and anxiety in children.
• The more time children spend watching coverage of the disaster, the more likely they are to have negative reactions.
• Graphic images and news stories of loss may be particularly upsetting to children.
• Very young children may not understand that the coverage and repetition of images from an earlier or past event is a replay. They may think the event is continuing to happen or is happening again.
• Excessive exposure to the media coverage may interfere with children’s recovery after an event.

What Can Parents Do to Help?

• Limit your children’s exposure to media coverage:
  • The younger the child, the less exposure he/she should have.
  • You may choose to eliminate all exposure for very young children.
  • Play DVDs or videotapes of their favorite shows or movies instead.
  • Consider family activities away from the television, radio, or internet.
• Watch and Discuss with Children:
  • Watch what they watch.
  • Discuss the news stories with them, ask for their thoughts and feelings about what they saw, read, or heard.
  • Ask older children and teens about what they have seen on the internet, in order to get a better sense of their thoughts, fears, concerns, and point-of-view.
• Seize Opportunities for Communication:
  • Use newsbreaks that interrupt family viewing, or internet or newspaper images as opportunities to open conversation about their feelings.
• Clear Up Any Misunderstandings:
  • Don’t presume you know what your children are thinking; ask if they are worried and discuss those worries with them, reassuring them as needed.
  • Ask questions to see if they are understanding information and the situation accurately.
• Monitor Adult Conversations:
  • Watch what you and other adults say about the or the media coverage in front of children.
• Let Your Children Know about Successful Community Efforts:
  • You may want to share positive media images of rescued families and people who have been sheltered.
  • Reassure your children that many organizations and people are working together to help the community.
• Educate Yourself:
  • Learn about reactions children may have to natural disasters.
  • Know that many children are resilient and cope well, but some may have continuing difficulties.

When Your Family is Part of the Story.

• Know your Limits:
  • Decide if it is a good idea for children to talk to the media.
  • Ask the reporter for the purpose of the story and its content.
• Protect Your Children:
  • Make sure reporters have experience talking with children.
  • Be present when your children are being interviewed.
  • Praise your children post interview.