Independent, local media can improve humanitarian relief and enable people in the midst of crisis to take an active role in their own survival and recovery. In the past 20 years, the humanitarian community has dramatically improved the way relief is provided to people caught up in disasters and crises. However, much more could be done to keep those most affected by disaster informed of assistance efforts and able to engage in the relief process.
The first priority for humanitarian organizations is to provide services and critical aid. Dialogue between humanitarians and the local population is often limited and centers on relief activities. There is a significant opportunity for a more robust exchange between affected populations and humanitarians to improve the effectiveness of the immediate humanitarian response and to build more sustainable results over the long term. Strong, effective, local media are uniquely positioned to play a catalytic role in engaging communities during an emergency.