Tim Costello on disaster reporting

World Vision CEO Tim Costello - a frequent observer of disaster zones and subsequent reportage - will give a lecture on 'The Good & Bad of Disaster Reporting? tomorrow, Wednesday 20 April. A former Baptist Minister, Mayor of St Kilda, anti-gambling activist and one of Australia's best known advocates for a more generous Australian foreign aid program, Mr Costello has seen first hand how journalists cover disasters in both Australia and internationally, including Aceh in the aftermath of the 2004 earthquake and tsunami. The lecture is being organised by the Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University. Centre Director Michael Gawenda says: 'In a globalised world and with the changing climate likely to produce more and more severe weather events, the role of the media and the ethics of media coverage of suffering, is increasingly in need of scrutiny.' A panel response to Mr Costello's lecture will take place next week, Thursday 28 April. Speakers joining Mr Gawenda (a former editor-in-chief of The Age) will include: Jo Chandler (senior writer at The Age), and Peter Bartlett (partner at Minter Ellison Lawyers and leading defamation and media lawyer). The panel will discuss the ethical rules for journalists in reporting disasters, consider when an invitation of privacy is warranted, and assess the necessity of media coverage of disasters. 'Technological change and the digital revolution have changed the way the media reports natural disasters,' Mr Gawenda said.