twitter, crisis, & authority: the role of @qpsmedia during the queensland floods

Panel paper – IR 12.0 2011

Twitter, Crisis, & Authority: The role of @QPSMedia during the Queensland floods

Frances Shaw

Kate Crawford

Jean Burgess

Axel Bruns

Context - Toowoomba

December 2010 – January 2011 Acute period – 10-12th January Toowoomba & Lockyer Valley area State capital Brisbane

Context – Lockyer Valley

Context – Brisbane & Ipswich

December 2010 – January 2011 Acute period – 10-12th January Toowoomba & Lockyer Valley area State capital Brisbane

Social media

#qldfloods

@QPSMedia

Typology

Information Advice/Instructions Situational Information Requests for Information (Crowd-sourcing)

Typology

Media sharing News media updates Multimedia

Help & Fundraising Help Fundraising

Typology

Direct Experience Personal narrative and eyewitness reports

Reactions & discussion Adjunctive discussion Personal reaction Thanks / praise and gratitude Support Meta-analysis

Types of Communication

Changing patterns...

9-10th January Situational information Evacuation information

RT @QPSmedia: Anyone living near Lockyer creek should IMMEDIATELY evacuate to

higher ground #thebigwet #qldfloods

Changing patterns...

11th January Advice Mythbusting

RT @QPSmedia: Please remember your elderly and infirm neighbours as this flooding crisis continues #thebigwet

#qldfloods

Changing patterns...

11th January Advice Mythbusting

RT @QPSmedia: Do you know where your children are? DON'T let children play in flood waters! #QldFloods #TheBigWet

http://fb.me/RNXoBrgg

Changing patterns...

12th January

RT @QPSmedia please stop sightseeing along Kingsford Smith Drive. Water rising

quickly you'll be stranded

13th January

RT @QPSmedia: Do NOT spread rumours. The 2-hourly media conferences have

correct info. Wivenhoe dam is ABSOLUTELY safe #QldFloods #TheBigWet

Changing patterns...

14th January

RT @QPSmedia: Reminder – looting carries a double penalty to usual stealing charges

(maximum ten years imprisonment) #QldFloods #TheBigWet

RT @QPSmedia: Beware of scams: there are reports of fake flood donation collections

and charities. #qldfloods #thebigwet

Tweet resonance

Rumour management

”mythbusting” series

RT @QPSmedia: Flood myth buster #6: Brisbane CBD is NOT being evacuated

RT @QPSmedia: Flood myth buster #7: public transport is not closing down at

2pm in the Brisbane CBD

Rumour management

From #qldfloods

RT @ibeau: All public transport in the CBD has been stopped #qldfloods

#thebigwet

RT @couriermail: Unconfirmed reports Central Station in Brisbane closing at

2pm today. Advise to leave CBD. #qldfloods

Rumour management

Community co-operation

a gentle reminder that there are lots of speculation getting around twitter re #qldfloods @QPSmedia is def worth

checking for accuracy

In order to prevent mistruths and speculation follow @qpsmedia and

@612brisbane #qldfloods

Thanks & Gratitude

Have to say QLD Police (@QPSmedia) are doing a stellar job using social channels to

keep everyone updated

Good job by @QPSmedia and media outlets. This is what twitter is for

Show 'em how its done Qld Police @QPSMedia Excellent use of Social Media

in #qldfloods

Thanks & Gratitude

@QPSmedia Thank you for using twitter to keep everyone up to date. And for clearing

up all the misinformation so quickly #qldfloods

Follow @QPSmedia for correct and constant information. Especially for those directly

affected. Doing a great job. #qldfloods Others have said it ill echo.. @qpsmedia was/is a phenomenal success at delivering

timely and verified info during the #qldfloods

Summary of themes

Rumour management

Thanks, praise, and gratitude