Recorded presentation

Mehrnaz Davoudi, MPH¹, Deborah C. Glik, ScD¹, and Deborah D. Riopelle, MSPH². (1) School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310 267 2694, mdavoudi@ucla.edu, (2) UCLA Center for Public Health & Disasters, 1145 Gayley Ave Suite 304, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Disasters, both natural and man-made, are a major public health concern. The general public often lacks experience about disasters but needs to be informed in order to have the ability to respond quickly and accurately. This ability is best formed directly through experience with disasters; although for most individuals, indirect experience through popular media is the only method by which information about disasters are gathered. Given that popular television and movies are two main channels through which perceptions about disasters are formed, to date, little research has been done to examine how popular media portrays disasters.

This study focuses on the exploration of disaster content in popular movies and prime-time television. The top 50 grossing movies for the years 1997 and 2003 and prime-time television shows airing in the winter and spring of 2003 and 2004 were identified, and within this list, those movies and television shows that contained evidence of disaster content in their narrative reviews were selected and reviewed for content. Each movie and episode was reviewed by two individuals, who were trained in media content analysis, using a 38-item media content coding sheet. Movies/episodes were reviewed for type of disaster, vector/cause, location of incident, consequence, emergency preparedness and response, political context, and media context (including tone and graphic nature). The results of this review will be discussed with respect to disaster related perceptions, risk communication, and preparedness. Implications for using popular media as a channel for disaster-related health education and promotion will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• methods of gathering data about disaster content in movies and television,
• overview of media and its relation to health,
• depictions of disasters in popular media,
• how media can be used for disaster-related health education and promotion.

Keywords: Media, Risk Communication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation