Can journalism help people prepare for wildfires? A recent Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) within COST Action AlertHub examined how wildfire news coverage in Portugal and Spain communicates risk, preparedness, and protective action. The findings show that journalism becomes more effective when it combines information about danger with practical guidance, helping citizens understand not only what is happening, but also what they can do in response.
From reporting fires to supporting preparedness
When a wildfire breaks out, news coverage often focuses on flames, destruction, evacuations, and uncertainty. These elements are essential for conveying the seriousness of the situation. But do they help people understand how to protect themselves?
This question guided a recent Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) funded by COST Action AlertHub (CA23126) and hosted by the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Conducted in collaboration with Prof. Berta García Orosa, the project explored how journalism contributes to risk communication and public preparedness during wildfire events.
The study analysed 250 wildfire-related news articles published during the 2025 fire season in two newspapers from neighbouring fire-prone regions: Público (Portugal) and La Voz de Galicia (Spain). The objective was not only to understand how wildfires are represented in the media, but also to examine whether news coverage provides citizens with information that supports protective action.
Two ways of communicating risk
The analysis identified two broad communication patterns.
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The first can be described as a threat-centred narrative. These stories emphasise destruction, danger, losses, and the dramatic aspects of wildfire events. They often rely on disaster-oriented framing and highlight the severity of the situation.
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The second is an efficacy-oriented narrative. Here, the focus shifts towards prevention, preparedness, response measures, and practical recommendations. These stories explain what citizens can do, where they can obtain reliable information, and how protective actions may reduce risks.
The distinction is important because risk communication is not only about making threats visible; it is also about helping people understand how to respond. The comparison between newspapers revealed that La Voz de Galicia devoted more attention to response-oriented coverage and prevention, while Público relied more heavily on disaster framing. However, the strongest findings were related to how individual stories connected threat with practical guidance.
Why recommendations matter
One of the strongest findings of the study concerns the role of protective recommendations. Articles that included clear recommendations—such as following official alerts, preparing for evacuation, avoiding high-risk areas, or adopting preventive measures—were significantly more likely to communicate a sense of efficacy. In other words, they helped audiences understand that meaningful action is possible.
By contrast, articles that focused heavily on danger without providing guidance were more frequently associated with what the study describes as a high-threat, low-efficacy communication pattern. Such coverage may increase awareness of risks but can leave audiences without a clear understanding of how to respond.
Journalism as part of warning communication
The study contributes to a growing body of research showing that journalism plays an important role within broader warning communication systems.
News organisations do not simply relay information from authorities. They interpret, contextualise, and prioritise information for the public. Decisions about headlines, sources, framing, and story structure influence how people understand risks and how they react to warnings.
This perspective aligns closely with AlertHub's objectives of strengthening warning communication and societal resilience across Europe. If warnings are to support protective behaviour, they must not only reach people but also be communicated in ways that are understandable, relevant, and actionable.
From research findings to practical guidance
Beyond the academic study itself, the STSM produced several resources designed to support both researchers and practitioners.
A trilingual Best Practices Manual for News Coverage of Forest Fires in Portugal and Spain was developed in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The manual translates the research findings into practical recommendations for journalists, editors, and media organisations. Among its recommendations are:
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Combine threat information with actionable guidance.
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Prioritise prevention-oriented reporting.
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Include protective recommendations as a standard editorial element.
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Avoid alarmist language that lacks practical value.
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Translate official information into clear and accessible public guidance.
The project also resulted in an open-access website containing the study dataset, coding protocol, analytical procedures, visualisations, and research materials (https://labgira.com/alerthub). By making these resources publicly available, the project aims to contribute to transparency, reproducibility, and knowledge sharing within the AlertHub community and beyond.
Looking ahead
As climate-related hazards become more frequent and intense across Europe, understanding how risk information is communicated becomes increasingly important. Wildfire journalism is not only about documenting disasters after they occur. It can also help citizens prepare before emergencies happen and support informed decision-making during crises.
The findings from this STSM suggest that journalism becomes most valuable when it connects urgency with action. By moving from threat-centred reporting towards communication that also strengthens preparedness and efficacy, news media can play an important role in building more resilient communities.
Further information
Project repository and open-access resources:
https://labgira.com/alerthub/
Contact
Gisiela Klein
University of Coimbra
gisiela@gmail.com
