Workshop: Disaster-ready media and information ecosystems

This Model Plan, first of its kind, provides a structured framework and practical recommendations to guide media organisations in developing or improving their own disaster preparedness and response plans. It helps media outlets of all types and sizes be institutionally prepared to cope with emergencies and better contribute to strengthening community resilience through their work. Ultimately, this contributes to ensuring the access to and continuity of reliable information flows throughout a disaster management cycle.  

As climate change intensifies and extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for reliable, accessible, and actionable information on disaster preparedness and risk reduction becomes increasingly urgent, particularly for at-risk communities. In such contexts, public-interest media institutions, from community media to national public broadcasters, remain vital information pillars. However, these institutions must be structurally prepared and resilient to ensure operational continuity, seamless stakeholdercollaboration, and the capacity to navigate complex editorial challenges during emergencies. 

Media organisations are recognised under the Sendai Framework 2015-2030 as a key stakeholder in disaster risk reduction in both the distribution of critical information during disasters, and in fostering a culture of preparedness amongst citizens (Sendai Framework, 25(c) and 36(d)).  

The Model Plan, developed by UNESCO in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, was launched in November 2025 at the 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention in Sri Lanka. The Public Media Alliance was a contributor. 

The workshop will last 90 minutes. Participants will be given: 

• An enhanced understanding of how the media contribute to disaster preparedness, response and risk reduction; 
• A detailed overview of the Model Plan; 
• Practical guidance on how to tailor the Model Plan to media outlets’ specific needs and operational contexts.

During the workshop, there will be:  

• A panel of leading experts discussing media resilience and disaster preparedness and risk reduction in the media sector. 
• Breakout sessions on how the Model Plan can be applied in real-world situations.  

The Public Media Alliance is also offering its members exclusive one-on-one clinics with an expert in crisis communications, supporting them in the implementation of the Model Plan.  

To be eligible for these clinics, you must:  

• Be a member of the Public Media Alliance  
• Attend the workshop

Sessions will be arranged on a first-come first-served basis.  

To find out more, please email keiran@publicmediaalliance.org