Evaluation of Media Managers Awareness on Earthquakes and their Management

Media have an important and decisive role when an earthquake disaster happens due to the nature of news distribution. Because of this, they have influences on risk management and national security to identify people’s need, in attraction of communities' donations and cooperation in order to provide rapid and accurate information, prevent rumors, social problems and disorganizations. In fact, messages of media, in addition to their informative role on audiences, play a decisive role on quality of risk management process, reduce disaster effects and prevent other potential and secondary disasters caused by earthquakes. On the other hand, media plays an active and effective role in risk management process. First, it depends on the reliability of media organization and knowledge of their managers during an earthquake disaster. So, it is required to pay more attention to awareness, prioritization, and operational capabilities of media managers which have an undeniable impact on the optimal role of media.

In this study we focus on evaluating knowledge level of media managers of earthquakes phenomena and its consequences. It is based on social communication theories, mass media and principles of management science, as well as risk management, organization, new structure and decree in the country by drawing probable threats, and explaining the role of media managers and media messages.