The Role of Media in Crisis Management in the Kurdistan Region (Financial Crisis as a Case Study)

Abstract

Media is the most sensitive strategic tool when a crisis arises since it can trace the cause of the crisis and provide solutions to help resolve it. In other words, media can be both the source of the crisis and crisis solution in the society. It is a medium which provides the receiver with the news and data, and at the same time it adds analysis to the data which is eventually significant in influencing and directing the public opinion. This research is an experimental study which employs descriptive tools, a designed survey and academic methods aiming to explain the role of the media in crisis management in the Kurdistan Region in which the financial crisis is chosen as a case study. First, the research provides accurate data related to the causes of the financial crisis and ways to help resolve it with the minimum impact on the individuals, particularly employees; drawing on the opinion of experts, a sample is taken from the employees of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The research also study measures the role of media in raising awareness among the individuals to confront the financial crisis and minimize its impact. This study comprises three parts in which the first part is the research method. The second part is the theoretical analysis of the research consisting of a number of sections which highlight the media forms and media economics. It mentions the characteristics, importance, responsibilities of the media economics. It also points out the issues of the media economics in the Kurdistan Region. Moreover, the second part discusses the roles and responsibilities of media at crisis times along with its management, concluding that media is responsible for bridging the gap between the power and the society when a crisis arises. The last part of this research is an experimental study including a survey (questionnaire) data analysis conducted with the teachers and employees at Sulaimani University which attempts to analyses their opinion and feedback on the information disseminated by the Television Channels in the Kurdistan Region during the financial crises