Media and Local Communities in the Context of Humanitarian Aid

Abstract

The subject of the article is creating the image of local communities in the media in the context of humanitarian aid. The rationale for taking up the topic are extraordinary events and the resulting humanitarian needs as well as the media creating the image of the victims and the need to help them. The information presented by the media is a signpost for donators of humanitarian aid. They make it possible to recognize the needs of the victims and provide them with full-value assistance. The assistance provided enables the local community to readapt, and also draws attention to the situation in a given area. The article adopted the research goal of defining the role of the media in creating the image of the local community in the context of providing humanitarian aid. The research goal adopted in this way allowed for a hypothesis that the media constitute the basis for creating the image of local communities in need of humanitarian aid. Composing a social view of humanitarian aid beneficiaries appoints the media as an organ that determines the type, direction and volume of humanitarian aid. The formulated hypothesis was verified thanks to the use of research methods in the form of a case study, desk research and an analysis of the scientific literature. The article presents the media as a key area in creating the image of humanitarian aid beneficiaries.