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Media Organizations

Media organizations (radio, TV, print, online) play a crucial role in informing people about Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. We consider you to be partners in helping the public prepare to survive and recover from the next damaging earthquake. Media organizations, reporters, writers, broadcasters and others are encouraged to get involved in several ways:

  1. Report on and help promote ShakeOut ahead of time and on International ShakeOut Day (2023: October 19). Story concepts, blurbs, PSAs, drill broadcasts, graphics, videos, and more are available at ShakeOut.org/messaging.

  2. Register your media organization to participate in ShakeOut. Make sure you too know how to protect yourself from earthquakes and ensure your workplace does too.

  3. See the sections below for print, radio, and tv media for more specific information.


ShakeOut Releases and Media Advisories

Events / Contact

Media Contact

Mark Benthien
Southern California Earthquake Center
Phone: (213) 740-0323
E-mail: benthien@usc.edu
Website: https://www.scec.org

ShakeOut Messaging (Blurbs, Talking Points, Graphics, and Videos)

PRINT AND Online

Reporting about ShakeOut is a critical opportunity to help people get prepared for earthquakes. At ShakeOut.org/messaging, there are many pre-written blurbs, talking points, graphics, and videos to use in your story. Here are also a few ideas to help you along:

ShakeOut Information

The main page for gathering the latest count of how many are participating is the home page, ShakeOut.org. Please note:

  • These counts are constantly changing as more people register or as people update their plans.
  • These counts auto-update each night.


You can see who is participating by visiting ShakeOut.org/whoisparticipating.

The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

We encourage ShakeOut participants to do more than practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety are a comprehensive guide for learning how to prepare to survive and recover from the next damaging earthquake, developed by a collaboration of emergency managers, communications experts, and scientists.

EarthquakeCountry.org/sevensteps

National Seismic Hazard Maps

The U.S. Geological Survey is responsible for publishing these maps which communicate the probability a certain level of ground shaking will occur in a 50-year timeframe. In fact, 1 in 2 Americans are at risk for ground shaking in the U.S.

See the maps

Radio Stations

Radio stations play a key role in ShakeOut participation in that many participants may choose to tune in to your station to use your ShakeOut drill broadcast to help guide their drill.

They may also hear about ShakeOut coming up on various radio stations too.

Here are a few resources to help your listeners:

  1. Download the drill broadcasts, or scripts to make your own, ahead of time, at ShakeOut.org/messaging. (Click audio/video for the broadcast audio files, and messaging for scripts)

  2. Record a PSA (or play one of ours) for your listeners, promoting ShakeOut. Get scripts and links to download at ShakeOut.org/messaging. (Click audio/video for the broadcast audio files, and messaging for scripts.)

  3. Protect yourself and your organization! Make sure your stations also registers in ShakeOut and holds a Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill

You can also go to the ShakeOut Drill Broadcast page for downloadable ShakeOut drill broadcasts, such as the one above.


Examples

KPCC | ShakeOut: 6 steps to quake-proof your home

Listen

KQED | It’s ‘Earthquake Season’: Join California’s Great ShakeOut

Listen

TV Stations

Like radio stations, TV stations play a key role too in ShakeOut participation in that many participants may also choose to tune in to your station to hear a drill broadcast.

They may also hear about ShakeOut coming up on various tv stations too.

Here are a few resources to help accommodate your viewers:

  1. Download the drill broadcasts, or scripts to make your own, ahead of time, at ShakeOut.org/messaging. (Click audio/video for the broadcast video files, and messaging for scripts)

  2. Record a PSA (or play one of ours) for your listeners, promoting ShakeOut. Get scripts and links to download at ShakeOut.org/messaging. (Click audio/video for the broadcast video files, and messaging for scripts.)

  3. Download B-roll from our Earthquake Safety Video Series to air in your stories, promotions, and drill broadcasts.

  4. Protect yourself and your organization! Make sure your stations also registers in ShakeOut and holds a Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill

You can also go to the ShakeOut Drill Broadcast page for downloadable ShakeOut drill broadcasts, such as the one above.


© 2024 Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC), headquartered at the University of Southern California (USC)
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills