Tsunamihelp - Broadcasters Help Project

This project uses information and communication technology (ICT) in the form of a public, online database to disseminate and exchange information about efforts to rebuild media outlets following the emergency. The authors believe by sharing this information, broadcasters will be stimulated to coordinate their efforts and thus be able to act more effectively together to deliver needed aid. Participation is a key strategy underlying the Broadcasters Help website, which uses Wiki technology. Wiki is a website (or other hypertext documents collection) allowing users to add or edit content freely. "Wiki" also refers to the collaborative software used to create such a website. Wikinews' mission is "to create a diverse community where anyone can independently report the news on a wide variety of current events." (Click here to read more about the history of the development of this technology, and its strategic elements.)

Broadcasters Help offers an overview of the global humanitarian response to broadcasters in the days, weeks, and months following the disaster. The Home Page includes details about such initiatives as calls for tsunami film footage, resources for journalists traumatised by their experiences covering the disaster, and contact information for those interested in donating radio sets and batteries or offering media training. The weblog also includes details of responses divided by geographical region; country-specific in-depth reports are also provided. Other resources include a list of related conferences, links to further sources of information, and details about technology for new stations. As an example of the latter, information is provided about LiveSupport, a Campware (Center for Advanced Media Prague) project that aims to create a free and open source automation software package for smaller community radio stations, some of which may be starting to rebuild after the tsunami.

Emergency, Technology.

Jonathan Marks, the project's creator, indicates that "There is the immediate need to replace stations put off the air. But also longer term thinking about the role of broadcasters in times of natural disaster." For example, figures offered on the Broadcasters Help website indicate that over one-third of those killed by the Indian Ocean tsunami were children; 1 million more are injured or have lost family. In this context, organisers say, there is clearly a role for broadcasters beyond the provision of crucial emergency and relief information: they may play a role in helping to educate in the stricken region, too.