Disasters and Information Source Repertoires: Information Seeking and Information Sufficiency in Postearthquake Haiti

Abstract

This study examines how Haitians used “information source repertoires” to meet information insufficiencies following the 2010 earthquake. Using survey data gained in Haiti, the study explores which demographic and structural factors predicted the number of sources used and combinations of information sources following the disaster. Analysis of the data revealed two distinct repertoires of information sources: a “traditional” repertoire of radio, TV, church, and word of mouth; and an “elite” repertoire of newspapers, the Internet, short-message-service, billboards, and the national police. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that demographic variables like education were stronger predictors of information repertoires than conditions like living in a refugee camp or having one's home destroyed. Results also suggested that greater reliance on a traditional repertoire led to decreased information sufficiency. Contrary to previous crisis research, men were found to be more active information seekers than women, suggesting that scholarly knowledge about information seeking and media use after crises in developing nations is limited. Implications for practice are directed at international development and aid organizations in planning postdisaster information provision efforts.

Keywords:

• Crisis
• Information Seeking
• Media
• Repertoires
• Haiti

Acknowledgments

He would like to thank the dedicated staff at Internews, Dr Jennifer Mandel for her work with the survey team, Dr Brooke Liu for her feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Notes

[1] The United Nations (2012) classifies nations into three broad categories by level of economic development: “developed economies,” “economies in transition,” and “developing.” Haiti is designated as a “developing” nation and further categorized as among the “least developed countries” in the world. In this article, the term “developing” will be used to describe Haiti and other nations with similar economic conditions.

[2] In the crisis literature, the term “channel” has generally referred to the kind of communication medium (i.e. radio, TV, interpersonal), whereas “source” has referred to specific information outlets (i.e. certain TV programs, radio programs, particular individuals). The term “source” was adopted to accommodate the wide range of specific communication outlets (which may be through the same or different channel), through which individuals may seek out postcrisis information. Thus, in this article “channel” and “source” are used interchangeably.

[3] The time frame for this study was selected for two reasons. First, the time period is before the widespread outbreaks of cholera that began in the summer of 2010. Second, in May of 2010, Haitian President René Préval announced a shift in the recovery efforts away from humanitarian aid to social issues like education, suggesting a new phase of recovery had begun.

[4] Efforts to create participatory radio programming for women should be undertaken with caution as men in some developing nations may respond negatively or even violently to the perceived education and empowerment of women through radio programming (cf. Sypher, McKinley, Ventsam, & Valdeavellano, 2002).