Personally, I think that the most important of the five secrets of crisis networking, is managing panic. The government and the media play a siginifcant role in the way that panic amongst the people is managed when any one georgraphical location is experiencing a crisis. There are a number of guidelines that should be adhered to by media institutions that inform the people about a crisis to ensure that their response is not one of panic. These are accordingly, is gaining public trust. If people are concerned about something, and this issue is not addressed by the relevant authorities then people cant really hear the message you are trying to relay. Secondly, governments must focus on determining the right messages for what we anticipate the issues will be. This is push technology. But the message the government pushes out must be in tune with people's concerns and giving advice on what behaviours the government wants to decrease in order to reduce risk. If push technology is not used correctly the message will fall on no recievers. Thirdly, there is the additional problem, that people dont usually like being told what to do. For example, as a child when your mother tells you to go for a bath when you are yound, you ususally dont want to beacuse you dont like being told what to do. This is similar to the way people respond in a crisis and this aspect needs to be carefully managed by the relevant authorities. Fourthly, the government must put in process a plan for providing psychological first aid which includes safety-removing people from the threat; calming people who are in a panic; connection-to ensure people feel connected and in the loop and not isolated; efficacy-wuick methods of taking action and controlling the situation; hope-the idea that together you can get through this crisis. Finally, journalists an dthe relevant authorties should take these ideas and infuse them with the message that they send out to the public in a time of crisis.
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