So Cal wildfires offer inside look at media

By Len Gutman on October 23rd, 2007 In Media

Lisalake

Channel 10 in San Diego is offering viewers an inside look at the news business during the 24×7 coverage of the wildfires in San Diego County via it’s blog. Above is a photo from the Channel 10 blog of 10News anchors Bill Griffith and Lisa Lake (a classmate of mine from Helix High School) preparing to go on the air.

It has been interesting to watch the coverage from my home town and seeing how it is affecting not only the residents but the media as well. Earlier today I watched CNN anchor Kyra Phillips (another San Diego native and Helix grad) reporting from Atlanta while her parents and friends sweat out the fire. Phillips is heading to San Diego this afternoon to be with her family.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has dedicated its web home page to fire coverage. The U-T has also set up a dedicated blog to report on the latest fire news.

The web and blogging is proving to be a powerful tool for communications, both within San Diego County and for folks like me outside of the area looking for breaking news and information.

sosphoto

So Cal wildfires offer inside look at media

Comments

Jessica Hansen Says:
October 24th, 2007 at 11:22 am

I was researching information online about the wildfires, and I found it very interesting to visit various (unrelated) websites to learn how information is being communicated… So many people are being affected by this catastrophe and people throughout the nation want the latest information… News about the wildfires has been added to the homepages of many organizations in Southern California — The San Diego Chargers and San Diego Padres have wildfire news updates on the homepage of the organization websites… The IABC San Diego chapter has a note on its website letting members know that the professional development program for this week has been cancelled but that RSVPs will be honored for a future event… I also looked-up the website of the resort in Fallbrook where my husband and I were married, and a “Fire Update” was added to the homepage to let people know that the resort is currently closed due to evacuations in the area and that all reservations have been cancelled through Tuesday, 10/30… Each of the websites I visited have added links for people to obtain further information from the American Red Cross and other organizations… I was intrigued to learn all of the organizations had used the Web to communicate the latest news, and I assume the Web has become a main vehicle for communication since phone lines remain out of service in many areas…

Thankfully my family and friends in Southern California are safe right now… I am praying that the winds calm down so that firefighters can begin to contain the fires that are currently causing so much devastation for Southern California residents!! My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is affected by this tragic event…

Charlotte Risch Says:
October 24th, 2007 at 12:50 pm

Great “PR” for the station to show how much they are working…all the stations are hustling and bustling like this, but most TV promotion/marketing departments would be putting together “We’re here for you San Diego” and “Weather First” promos. Instead, this promo department decided to give an inside look at the action. I like it…instead of telling viewers you are working on keeping them abreast of breaking news and weather updates you are SHOWING them that.

Dan Wool Says:
October 24th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

I think 9/11 was the true coming out party for the Web as crisis communication vehicle.

Now, what we may be seeing here is the coming out party for blogs and social media as mainstream crisis communication vehicles. Channel 10/SD “gets it” — it’s about providing differing perspectives and being transparent in the process. And they’re building credibility as they do it.

Dan Wool Says:
October 24th, 2007 at 3:40 pm

Forgot to include this link — the LA Times interactive maps, blogs, etc. Check out how they use Twitter.

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