3. I’m Conflicted! +Web/New Media +Public Affairs/Government +Journalism +Emergency Management

4. Traditional vs. Social Media

8. 2000 (Then) 46% of adults use internet 5% with broadband at home 50% own a cell phone <5% are content creators 0% connect wirelessly = slow, stationary connections built around my computer, simple chat and information exchange 2008 (Now) 75% of adults use internet 57% with broadband at home 82% own a cell phone ~40% are content creators 62% connect wirelessly = fast, mobile connections built around outside servers and storage and social / civic engagement Pew Internet & American Life Project

13. The future as generations shift?

16. Q: Who’s a First Informer?

17. Answer Before 2004: Government, Media Answer Today: Everyone

18. “ ... the old, linear model for information dissemination of authorities- to -public relations- to -media is outmoded...” “ ... the public is able to take not only a more active part in seeking information, but also in providing information to each other...” - Palen and Liu, 2007

19. Social Media Use • We, the government, are viewed as simply one content provider and everyone else has just as much power (though not necessarily the same credibility) to provide public information. • Help others become our information ambassadors.

21. Virginia Tech Shooting • Video/audio captured from a cell phone camera shows the emergency as it’s happening; video submitted to CNN iReport.

22. Virginia Tech Shooting • Studies examined tragedy and Facebook

24. Virginia Tech Shooting • Facebook users questioned official sources: • They relied on “socially produced accuracy” instead of rumor-mongering or waiting for official college or media.

25. Virginia Tech Shooting • Traditional media covered social media:

26. Virginia Tech Shooting • Research plotted official vs. new media timelines of information • Media reported this, too: “ The Internet reacted to the event immediately -- and more quickly than Virginia Tech administrators, who took two hours to warn students, via e-mail, about a first shooting. The Web site of VT's student newspaper, the Collegiate Times, crashed when students flooded it after the first shooting.” - Forbes, April 17, 2007

28. California Wildfires • Challenging story for traditional media to cover because wide and sometimes remote areas. • People want real-time information in case they need to evacuate or if they already have evacuated (is their property OK?) • Local media and government (traditional first informers) started to use social media platforms to keep up with information dissemination during wildfires in 2007.

29. California Wildfires • In May 2007, LAFD asked people near fires to send Twitter updates -- “helped the department tailor its fire-fighting strategy.”

30. California Wildfires • During wildfires and other emergencies, Yahoo! News and local media outlets used Flickr photos as eyewitness accounts -- this legitimizes Flickr (photos and members) as an authoritative source.

31. California Wildfires

32. California Wildfires

33. California Wildfires

34. California Wildfires “ You shared information with each other on the blog and on our fire forums and corrected us when we were wrong. In the process, you helped us cover the news for everyone.”

35. Fairfax County’s Efforts

36. Global Fairfax County Oct. 20, 2008 = 4 fans Dec. 13, 2009 = 2,713 fans

37. Global Fairfax County Jan. 6, 2009 = 6 followers Dec. 13, 2009 = 1,908 followers

38. Demographics Debunked • Fairfax County’s Facebook Fans: • 90% age 25+ • 58% age 35+

40. Fairfax County and H1N1

41. Fairfax County and H1N1

42. Fairfax County and H1N1

44. Social Media Monitoring

45. Fairfax County • Resident as First Informer

46. Emerging Platforms

48. Emerging Platforms

49. Emerging Platforms One prime example: Apple’s iPhone

50. Emerging Platforms

51. Emerging Platforms

53. Discussion Questions: Impacts on Emergency Management

62. Closing Thought 2