Malawi Red Cross Society has urged the media to avoid writing stories of despair during disasters, pointing out that such narratives lead to panic among victims.
Communications Coordinator for the organisation, Felix Washon, said this during this year’s commemorations of World Press Freedom Day in Mangochi.
Washon said when disasters happen, victims need hope and assurance instead of stories of despair.
“As media, we need to use data from reliable sources in order to write well-informed stories,” said Washon.
He nonetheless expressed gratitude to the media for their role in disseminating information during disasters.
By Henry Haukeya
