DEVELOPING A HANDBOOK ON THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
AS I.E.C (Information, Education, Communication) TOOL
FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Introduction
The
Being said to be a natural laboratory for floods, typhoons, monsoon rains, earthquakes and the like – thousands are killed and close to 94,396,462 Filipinos have been affected by natural disasters and calamities in a span of 20 years.
Human caused disasters take on as much loss as natural disasters. In 2002 the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) recorded 120 fire incidents that affected 15,430 households, 22 flashfloods that affected 234,414 household, and 7 destructive typhoons that distressed 568,345 families. The poverty situation of many Filipinos severely restrict capacity to cope with many natural hazards and more so, to recover from the damages wrought by the disasters. (Asian Disaster Preparedness Council, 2001)
To cope with disaster and its effects, efficient and valuable information should be a requisite. The use of visuals to emphasize messages sent across increases receiver understanding of an organization’s concepts and objectives.
The advancement in digital technology has made it easier for the common folk to record events, people and social relationships through photography. Yet, even with the advancement of digital technology, we still often overlook and generally underutilize its valuable function, application and practice.
We live in a visual world where what we see is what we decode and interpret. We make sense of what we see in the world around us. In our minds we also create visual images to help us remember experiences and events that are important. Photographs, especially when associated or taken in direct relation to a recipient’s specific environment have more meaning and value when used specifically to assist in disseminating information; for education as well as to communicate objectives for an organization. They can also be a means for individuals to share and give feedback on their views and understanding of messages sent.
Photographs can be a powerful tool for various communications most especially in disaster management. Utilizing photographs in disaster management’s IEC strategies can strengthen understanding of various messages in the various phases of the disaster management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Photographs enhance clarity of information disseminated between disaster victims and disaster management officials; between funding agency and community and vise versa.
Everyone can become a photographer with the availability of tools within one’s reach. Photographs are produced by the millions by both enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. Decades after the advent of “point and shoot” technology in photography, we now see ourselves in the hub of what many would call digital revolution. The impact of new technology rapidly coming in demands a change in our culture and in our society. “It has changed the way we think, talk, write, teach and practice photography.” (Jay, 1989) Due to the ready accessibility and process to create an image – is necessary for a photographer to give emphasis and identify his purpose.
In the endless demand for images for the internet, television and print is inevitable for media and other organizations to use photographs produced by non-professionals. “Professional work may still command a premium, but that premium is slipping away as authorship and, perhaps, image quality has become less relevant.” (Hubbard, p3) There is a need to be able to sift through the wide sea of photographs, where few may take time to examine its quality. It becomes necessary to ensure content, validity and objectivity.
How then can we maximize the use of photography as IEC tool in the various phases of disaster management?
Statement of the Problem
The use of photography to enhance IEC strategies in disaster management has been recognized, but how to use photos efficiently and effectively remains a challenge. There is a need to develop a toolkit which will provide guidelines and standards on the use of photography in disaster management IEC work. This special project aims to answer the question: What are the elements of a handbook on using photography as an IEC (Information, Education and Communication) tool for disaster management?
Objectives
A. Identify the information objectives of community members during each
phase of disaster management as perceived by:
1. Community members
2. Disaster management officials.
A. Discuss the IEC (information, education and communication) requirements/need of community members and disaster management official in each phase of the disaster management cycle:
1. mitigation
2. preparedness
3. response
4. rehabilitation
B. Develop the contents of the Handbook on Using Photography as IEC Tool for Disaster Management
1. Describe the images needed in each phase of disaster management
a. The Subject (Simplicity, Balance, Perspective, Action)
b. Content (Visualizing the Message)
2. Explain the principles and methods needed in producing the photographs required
a. The photographer (Approach and Purpose)
b. Photo-data Gathering (Process and Methods, Validity and Objectivity)
3. Collate and present professional as well as ethical standards to be considered in utilizing photographs for disaster management IEC
a. A look into “Citizen Journalism”
b. Ethics, Sensitivity and Culture
Significance of the Project
In view of the fact that the advancement in technology has made photography an activity accessible to everyone, we fail to see the necessity to develop the ways in which we can maximize its output. The handbook is part of a media literacy that extends awareness and understanding on how to use photography effectively, responsively and ethically in disaster related issues.
In detail, the development of the handbook may be useful for:
1. Disaster Management Organizations’ Preparation of IEC Materials and Training Programs [National Disaster Coordinating Council, Philippine National Red Cross -- Local Disaster Chapters]. The knowledge on producing photo-data for each phase of the disaster management cycle is central to being able to deliver the correct message to its intended audience. What better method to complement, if not enhance the written data through photographs. Pictures give “genuineness” to the reality narrated by written documents. Pictures create a more interesting and animated evidence of accumulated narratives. Using photographs as data will improve IEC materials on development planning, communication and programming by understanding and explaining objectives through visuals.
2. Community Members and Disaster Management Officials. The use of photographs can become visual evidences of information that will be an essential tool for monitoring, assessment and evaluation of disaster stricken areas, as they are able to relay accurate data for accurate response during mitigation and recovery phase. The use of photographs can enhance project documentation and disaster reports. Photographs may also be used for rehabilitation of victims through a participatory photography approach.
3. Funding and Aid Agencies. The practice of photographic documentation is useful for field research and documentation of beneficiary’s activities and action plan. It is essential to apply certain techniques to getting the most appropriate photograph. Developing good rapport with project participants and community stakeholders is vital to field research using photography. Understanding methods to photo-data gathering will improve project monitoring and reporting. Also, information sharing between agencies would be less problematic as photographs are able to transcend barriers in language.
4. Photographers.
Photography in disaster management is more than just a “point and shot” strategy. Photographs for disaster management ought to understand disaster communication needs in disaster management so that they may be able to carry the right message across its intended audiences. Just like their amateur counterparts, professional photographers, photo-journalists and documentary photographers, as well as enthusiasts and amateurs would need to be guided on disaster management objectives as well as certain ethical principles that need to be applied in the course of taking photographs before, during and after a disaster. Photographs taken on the onslaught of a disaster become vital information needed to saving lives. Accuracy of information is essential. Also photographers of disaster groups ought to be guided on a photograph’s validity and objectivity.
Scope and Limitations
Disaster management recognizes the importance of mobilizing local communities in becoming responsive to disaster management activities. Community-based disaster management strategies are seen to be essential in the development process of a community because of the involvement and participation of its members.
Scope:
1. The handbook in this project is a guide, a toolkit that will direct photographers on practical applications to taking photographs for the various phases of disaster management. It aims to look at photography from the perspective of the photographer as the producer of the image and the photographer as the “sifter” of images produced by another. Regardless of the equipment used by the photographer: digital or manual camera, mobile phones and other device, the handbook will not be including technical or theoretical discussions on photography and its equipments..
2. The project focuses on the use of photography in the various phases of disaster management. Disaster management in this project will follow the Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council’s diagram which encompasses four major stages/ phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation.
3. The project will gather data on information needs of community members and disaster management officials. Community in this project pertains to “…people living in one geographical area and exposed to a common hazard because of their location. They may have common experience when responding to hazards and disasters. (Abarquez & Murshed, 2004)
4. The project gives focus on natural disasters which include: floods, earthquakes, storms
