Climate change and disasters are two entities that have a very strong bond. Journalists who cover climate change also play a key role in disaster communication. What is the nature of modern-day disaster reporting, and what are the main mistakes made by the media in this regard? Senior journalist, media trainer, and development communicator Nalaka Gunawardene shed light on these matters during a recent webinar he conducted under the theme of ‘Communicating Disasters’. He drew on more than two decades of Asian regional engagement to explore the role of information and communication in disaster education, early warning, and situational reporting.

Here is a summary:

Mainstream media has long treated disasters as isolated, sensationalized “events” characterized by fleeting spikes in attention, body counts, and dramatic, sometimes tone-deaf live shots. Once the immediate shock fades and TV crews pack up, the long-drawn-out, multi-year reality of human recovery and institutional neglect is rarely covered by the news media.

In today’s networked world, this approach needs to be redefined as mainstream media competes with citizen journalists and influencers on social media. Growing audience fatigue has triggered a sharp rise in news avoidance, largely because coverage remains stuck in a loop of tragedy, panic, and political gridlock.

To retain audiences, media companies must adopt a “new disaster lens” that shifts the narrative from mostly reactive “helicopter journalism” to more empathetic, process-driven storytelling. Central to this paradigm shift is understanding that while hazards are naturally occurring, disasters are mostly human-induced—shaped by factors like rapid urbanization, deforestation, and environmental degradation.

Now, with climate change increasing weather extremes and the frequency of impacts, it becomes necessary for the media to cover the full cycle of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)—including preparedness, adaptation, and systemic governance, where there are many uncovered or under-reported stories to be discovered.

There are also many inspiring case studies around the world where timely action by communities, local governments, or experts has helped avoid some disasters or mitigate their impacts. Focusing on this aspect will enable the media to save lives and protect livelihoods, rather than merely counting bodies or chronicling damage.