9 Tips for Innoculating Your Show From The N1H1 Scare.by Kipper McGee
(Originally published in Morning Mouth Magazine)
Pan-dem’-ic:
“A epidemic of infection disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region or even worldwide’Procrastinators, move over. According to the World Health Organization, the N1H1 pandemic has officially begun -- and just because you’re not ready doesn’t mean it won’t hit you. The 2009 N1H1 flu has already penetrated at least 27 states with more cases being confirmed daily. Here are some tips to help your show better serve your listeners, while preparing yourselves for the coming onslaught.
1.) Stay informed. One of the best sources for domestic trends is www.cdc.gov/h1n1gflu/ This site will give you the latest situation updates, along with general information on the N1H1 virus, tips for caring for the sick and more. You can easily link from your show’s website to keep listeners updated with a minimum of effort on the part of your staff.
2.) Get your shots. Regular flu shots are available now. N1H1 shots will be out shortly. Get yours ASAP when they become available. Encourage your team (and listeners) to do so as well.
3.) Listen to your Mom! Now is the time to practice as many good health habits as possible including frequent washing of hands. You will also want to budget for extra rest, maintain frequent physical activity, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.
4.) Avoid ‘presenteeism’. Typically radio people are hard-wired to believe “the show must go on” -- at all costs. Those familiar with N1H1 recommend otherwise. The best way to minimize the impact of the virus is to stay home and stay in bed if you get hit. (Not that you’ll have much choice, according to those who have experienced the virus!) .
5.) Plan to be short-staffed. If you haven’t reviewed your show’s depth chart for a while, now is a good time to do so. Who fills in if you are out? What if you are missing a couple key players at once? Unlike vacations, a pandemic creates the potential for several simultaneous layers of absences. You will want to have a plan in place that accounts for this.
6.) Meet your local experts NOW. Each market will have ‘go-to’ experts who will be noted as ‘thee’ authority during any crisis. Do you know who the N1H1 expert is for your market? Is this person compatible with your show, or should you consider a “Plan B” option? Once you have identified your ‘go-to’ person, it is a good idea to get acquainted ith this person to establish rapport and a comfort zone if coverage is dictated for your market. Of course, you’ll want to have a backup expert available in case your primary contact is also an N1H1 victim.
7.) Discuss any special coverage with your PD. Depending on the severity of impact in your market, your station may want to provide expanded coverage of treatment centers, school closings, etc. Your station may also want to take a leadership role by offering promotional support such as ‘Flu Shot Fridays”, etc.
8.) Follow facts to set your on-air tone of delivery. This scare may or may not warrant full scale “Armegeddon” level coverage. However, early indications are that will will not be a “Chicken Little/Sky is Falling” scenario, either. Above all the most critical
9.) Utilize ‘digital therapy”. There are any number of digital tools and resources at your disposal. Tips on utilizing social media and content to populate web links can be reviewed at: http://cdc.gov/socialmediacampaigns/H1N1.
The impact of the N1H1 virus will not be known for several months. However, a solid gameplan will always serve you well in preparing for the unknown and unexpected. Hopefully these tips will prove useful as you face the N1H1 situation along with other challenges yet to be known.
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