This initiative is shaped by the observation that radio, print, and television journalists have a crucial role to play in raising awareness amongst the public about risk management. The Trust contends that, rather than wait for a crisis situation, the media should be skilled in increasing and improving coverage of these issues on a regular basis as part of a culture of disaster prevention and preparedness.

Face-to-face capacity building sessions are central to this effort to encourage journalists and media institutions to be more open to, and proactive about, making disaster risk reduction issues more visible. By holding concurrent 5-day training workshops for 15 print and broadcast journalists and for 15 NGO representatives, the Trust hopes to enable interaction between these groups that might spark the development of fruitful relationships. In addition, 1- to 3-day workshops for 15 government officials in each state will focus on how to cooperate with the media more effectively. Finally, a 3-day workshop will seek to equip 16 radio professionals from the local media with the skills to design and produce public service announcements (PSAs) on disaster preparedness.

Risk Management.

According to the Trust, of India's 32 states and union territories, 22 are disaster-prone, and 57% of India is earthquake-prone.