A Practical Guide for Journalists Covering Major Earthquakes

Introduction

Major earthquakes create emergencies that demand fast, accurate, and responsible reporting. In these contexts, journalists and media workers play a critical role: they give the public access to verified information, reduce collective uncertainty, help stop the spread of rumours and contribute directly to protecting human life.

This guide offers practical information for journalistic work during seismic emergencies, wherever they occur. It draws on ethical principles and international standards for disaster coverage, and it should be read alongside your organisation’s own safety protocols and the legal framework of the country where you are reporting.

1. Guiding Principles of Coverage

1.1 Prioritise life and safety. Protecting the population must take precedence over getting the story first. Journalists should:

Avoid interfering with rescue operations.
Never enter restricted zones without authorisation.
Follow the instructions of civil protection and emergency authorities.
Avoid unnecessarily exposing victims, families, or emergency crews.

1.2 Accuracy and precision. All information should be verified before it is published:

Confirm facts with at least two reliable sources.
Clearly distinguish between facts, hypotheses and opinion.
Correct errors immediately and transparently.

1.3 Social responsibility. Reporting should help protect the public, not add to collective panic. Avoid:

Alarmist headlines.
Speculation about further aftershocks or additional disasters.
Unconfirmed casualty figures.

1.4 Humanitarian approach. Affected people must be treated with respect, dignity, and sensitivity at all times.

2. Standards and Regulations to Keep in Mind

Coverage should be grounded in recognised international standards, alongside the press and disaster-management laws of the country where you’re reporting:

UNESCO principles: disaster communication should provide reliable information, promote community resilience, counter disinformation and favour civic participation.
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ): recommends respect for victims, rigorous verification, protection of human dignity, and avoiding the exploitation of suffering.
Sphere Handbook for humanitarian action: promotes communication based on real needs, equitable access to information, and accountability to affected communities.
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR): encourages spreading preventive messages, strengthening a culture of risk management and promoting validated scientific information.

Wherever you’re reporting, check whether local laws contain specific provisions on the protection of minors, privacy, or disaster-related broadcasting — many countries do.

3. Before Covering an Earthquake: Preparation

Basic training. Every journalist assigned to disaster coverage should have a working knowledge of:

Fundamental concepts of seismology.
Integrated risk management.
Basic first aid.
Civil protection protocols.

Priority official sources. Keep an updated directory of:

Civil protection / emergency management agencies.
Fire departments.
Regional and local governments.
Health services.
Universities and geoscience experts.
The national seismological institute or equivalent scientific body.

4. During the Earthquake

If an earthquake strikes while you’re on assignment, prioritise your safety and that of your team before continuing any reporting activities.

Stop reporting immediately. No story, image, or live broadcast is worth risking your life.
Do not run outside during the earthquake. Many earthquake-related injuries occur when people attempt to move while debris, glass, or building materials are falling.
Stay away from windows, glass façades, exterior walls, shelves, light fixtures, and heavy equipment that could fall or shatter.
If outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, walls, bridges, trees, utility poles, and power lines.
If driving, pull over in a safe location away from overpasses, bridges, tunnels, buildings, and power lines, and remain inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.

For journalists in the field:

Do not prioritise protecting equipment over protecting yourself. Cameras, laptops, and other gear can be replaced.
Suspend live broadcasts and filming during intense shaking. Situational awareness is critical, and focusing on coverage may delay protective actions.
Avoid gathering crowds or encouraging risky behaviour in pursuit of footage or interviews.
Do not enter unstable structures, damaged buildings, or partially collapsed areas to obtain images or interviews.
Stay aware of secondary hazards, including falling debris, broken glass, fires, gas leaks, damaged electrical infrastructure, crowd surges, and traffic accidents.
If wearing headphones or monitoring audio feeds, remove them if it impairs your ability to remain aware of warnings, structural noises, and instructions from emergency responders.
Keep emergency protective equipment accessible, including a helmet, sturdy footwear, eye protection, and a dust mask or respirator if operating in areas with debris or collapsed structures.

Once the shaking stops:

Expect aftershocks. They can occur within minutes and may be strong enough to cause additional damage. Be prepared to immediately drop, cover, and hold on again.
Check yourself and your team for injuries before resuming any activity.
Assess your surroundings before moving. Look for structural damage, falling hazards, exposed electrical wires, gas leaks, fires, and damaged roads or bridges.
Move away from visibly damaged structures and establish a safe working position before continuing coverage.
Report your status to your editor, security focal point, or designated contact as soon as communications allow.
Resume reporting only after conducting a rapid risk assessment and confirming that conditions permit safe operations.

5. Immediate Coverage After the Earthquake

Information to prioritise:

Magnitude and location of the event.
Official time of the earthquake.
Affected areas.
Protective measures for the public.
Open transport and communication routes.
Official shelters and assistance centres.

Information to avoid:

Rumours of tsunamis or further earthquakes without scientific confirmation, or any unverified information.
Unofficial casualty figures.
Unverified information circulating on social media.

6. Responsibly Managing Images and Interviews

Respect the dignity of the people affected

Avoid sensationalism. Document the impact of the earthquake without exploiting people’s suffering.
Do not publish graphic images of bodies, severe injuries, or people in obvious distress unless there is a compelling public interest.
Consider whether an image informs the public or merely shocks the audience.

Interviewing survivors

Whenever possible, identify yourself as a journalist before asking questions.
Explain the purpose of the interview and how the material may be used.
Ask whether the person feels able to speak. Survivors may be in shock, grieving, injured, or searching for missing relatives.
Respect refusals immediately and do not repeatedly approach someone who has declined.
Avoid conducting interviews during active rescue operations, medical treatment, or moments of acute distress.

Working around rescue operations

Never interfere with emergency responders to obtain footage or interviews.
Maintain a safe distance from search-and-rescue activities and follow instructions from authorities.
Do not obstruct evacuation routes or access to emergency vehicles.
Avoid asking rescuers or relatives to repeat actions solely for the camera.

Privacy and identification

Avoid revealing personal information that could endanger or unnecessarily expose survivors, such as home addresses, temporary shelter locations, or the identities of people awaiting rescue.
Consider blurring identifying details when they add no journalistic value.

Children and vulnerable people

Do not interview unaccompanied children without taking the appropriate measures to safeguard their well-being and ensure compliance with local regulations.
Do not identify injured or deceased children before authorities have notified their families.
Avoid filming children in moments of extreme distress or trauma.
Be especially prudent when interviewing older adults, people with disabilities, or individuals experiencing psychological shock.

Verification

Clearly distinguish verified information from eyewitness accounts or rumours.
Do not amplify unconfirmed reports about casualties, missing persons, building collapses, or additional earthquakes.
Verify information with official sources or multiple independent witnesses before publication.

Journalistic principles

Ask yourself before publishing: Does this image or interview contribute to the public’s understanding of the disaster, or does it primarily expose someone’s suffering?

7. Responsible Use of Social Media

Social media is a potential source of information — and of disinformation.

Always verify:

The date of photos and videos.
The location where they were recorded.
Who created the content.
The real context of the images.

Label information clearly, distinguishing verified reports from unconfirmed content.

8. Risk Communication

Journalists can bolster risk management during a disaster.

Useful messages to share:

Aftershock risk.
Safe zones.
Meeting points.
Emergency phone lines.
Self-protection measures.

Use careful language. Favour phrases such as:

“According to confirmed official information…”
“Authorities say the assessment is ongoing…”
“There is no confirmation regarding…”

Avoid hyperbolic language such as “total catastrophe,” “absolute destruction,” or “apocalyptic situation.”

9. Mental Health and Ethical Coverage

Disasters have a deep psychological impact on survivors and the journalists covering them.

Avoid invasive interviews.
Don’t pressure people who are in shock.
Respect moments of grief.
Avoid re-victimising survivors.

Instead of: “How do you feel after losing your family?” Try: “If you’d like to share your experience, what would you want the community to know?”

10. Safety of the Reporting Team

Every newsroom sending journalists into the field should ensure they have:

An emergency plan.
Personal protective equipment.
Backup communication systems.
Clear evacuation protocols.

Journalists should never take unnecessary risks to obtain exclusive images.

11. Quick Checklist Before Publishing

Is the information confirmed?
Is the source reliable?
Could this cause unjustified panic?
Does it respect the dignity of victims?
Does it protect the identity of minors?
Does it contribute to public safety?
Does it comply with applicable local law?
Does it meet international ethical standards?

Conclusion

Covering major earthquakes requires balancing the public’s right to information with the media’s social responsibility. Journalists should act as fact-checkers, providers of useful information, and guarantors of the human rights of those affected. Ethical, professional reporting that respects the applicable legal framework doesn’t just inform — it helps protect lives, strengthens public trust, and supports the recovery of affected communities.

This guide adapts information from the Colegio Nacional de Periodistas de Venezuela (CNP)‘s “Guía práctica para periodistas en la cobertura de sismos de gran magnitud en Venezuela,” generalised for use by journalists covering earthquakes anywhere in the world, developed during the June 2026 earthquake