General News
14 January, 2026
Accurate news reports vital
HAVING been a radio broadcaster during earthquakes and a cyclone, either side of ‘The Ditch’, I have always respected the fact that, while reporting correct and factual information for the purpose of community safety, it is also important to avoid potential overdramatisation and locational inaccuracy which may affect businesses due to negative and improper media reports.
There is nothing worse, after all, than when hotel bookings are cancelled due to an event that has occurred hundreds of kilometres away. Sadly, this is what has been happening.
The two disasters I experienced were the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 and, more recently, Cyclone Jasper. Both locations have a high dependency on tourism.
Just prior to the new year, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), took the initiative to address the concerns about inaccurate reporting, with the aim of working with all media organisations to ensure information is as correct as possible.
As a result, media, government and tourism leaders recently came together at a Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) media roundtable with the aim to strengthen communication, trust and understanding before, during and after severe weather events.
The goal was to ensure stories told about Queensland are accurate, timely, regionally specific and supportive of both community safety and industry recovery.
TTNQ chief executive officer Mark Olsen has had concerns about the situation for some time.
“When we had a large weather event earlier this year in southeast Queensland, here in the Far North we were getting cancellations left, right and centre” Mr Olsen said.
“So, we were saying there is obviously something not quite working with the way we communicate with people in Sydney and Melbourne cancelling, when these people were actually closer to the cyclone than people in Far North Queensland,” he said.
“With old file footage being played on national television, the information was just inaccurate.”
Recently, TTNQ had a formal sit down with news agencies to suggest that the footage should be clearly identified as to where it was from.
More locally, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree (TPDD) has met local media organisations to discuss and improve communications. TDPP is the sole recognised tourism marketing organisation for the Douglas Shire, which stretches from the coastal areas of Wangetti to Bloomfield and includes the townships of Port Douglas, Mossman, Daintree Village and Cape Tribulation.
Executive officer Emma Tunnock is also keen to ensure accurate reporting during a disaster event.
“Community safety is first and foremost” Ms Tunnock said. “We need, however, to encourage more accuracy on how things are reported.”
The general principles of the initiatives discussed are not seen as rules, but mutual commitments designed to enhance collaboration, transparency and accuracy when Queensland experiences weather-related events.
Media organisations will work towards using specific regional and geographic references, not state-wide generalisations, with dated and verified imagery to ensure accuracy.
They will utilise official updates from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), plus government and industry channels, confirming details where possible before publishing when information is uncertain. They will also be open to corrections and updated information as situations evolve.
Supplying rapid, verified information and imagery to help newsrooms work accurately under pressure will be a key aim, keeping media updated as conditions improve and recovery begins.
The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) will aim to work with Queensland Police Service (QPS) and RACQ to speed up the process of reporting road conditions and closures to ensure locals and visitors are well informed and safe.
Other media objectives will aim to share positive recovery stories and operator updates early and often, while helping identify local voices and story angles that demonstrate strength and recovery.
At the same time, the tourism industry will commit to provide timely, factual updates on what is open, safe and operating. They will supply accurate, dated visuals and regional context to avoid confusion, plus alert media quickly if inaccurate or outdated content is circulating.
Both sectors will also commit to maintaining open, two-way communication before, during and after events.
That all makes sense to me moving forward.
I’m off to check that I’ve got my facts and figures totally correct, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
