UNESCO report highlights journalism's life-saving role in disasters and emergencies

A free press plays a critical role in saving lives, mitigating humanitarian disasters, and strengthening disaster preparedness, according to a new report released on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, by United Nations (UN) culture agency UNESCO, as reported in a press release by UN News. Titled The value of journalism: Global evidence on why media matters to economies, national security and crises, the report finds that a single New York Times article on a disaster generated an additional $500,000 in official aid. Research spanning 152 countries links greater press freedom with lower risks of conflict, repression, and human rights violations. The findings underscore trusted journalism as a crucial counter to false and harmful disinformation. The document argues that media matters to economies, national security, and crisis response alike.

The report covers issues ranging from COVID-19 and human rights to climate action and earthquake response. It notes that trusted media strengthens government accountability and helps affected communities access support. Critical reporting also acts as a watchdog to keep the aid sector honest, leading to reform and more effective responses. UNESCO supports media literacy around the world. Original environmental journalism, the report argues, can lead to better protection of natural ecosystems.

Specific examples illustrate journalism’s impact across regions:

• In Burkina Faso, radio programs about the risks of infant malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea reduced deaths of children under five by an average of 7.15 percent per year, saving an estimated 2,967 children’s lives.
• A campaign by journalists at the Los Angeles Times led to new building codes making California’s largest city more earthquake-resilient.
• An online magazine’s reporting on wastewater discharge from a landfill site in Thailand prompted authorities to step in, while investigations into illegal sand mining in Uganda led to a nationwide ban.
• In Nigeria, radio content designed to address COVID-19 misinformation helped regular listeners identify and challenge false narratives.

The report also details the damage caused by disinformation, which the World Health Organization described as an “infodemic” during COVID-19. One study estimated that disinformation led to nearly 2.3 million cases and 66,000 hospitalizations in 2021 in the United States alone, resulting in $2 billion in extra hospitalization costs and 45,000 avoidable deaths. News coverage can also prompt significant charitable giving, the report notes. British journalist Michael Buerk’s reporting from Ethiopia in 1984 for the BBC is credited with raising more than $200 million for famine relief. Turkish photojournalist Nilüfer Demir’s photo of Alan Kurdi in 2015 led to a 50-fold increase in funding to some non-governmental organizations.

Journalism has also driven reform within the aid sector itself, as shown during the #AidToo scandal, when journalists revealed abuse of power in Haiti and a culture of impunity involving NGOs Oxfam and Save the Children. False narratives and disinformation, the report warns, can exacerbate crises and even prevent aid from reaching those in need. False reporting may also fuel conflict and lead to violence against humanitarian workers. At the same time, trusted journalism remains a crucial source of expert advice and accurate information. The full UNESCO report is available on the agency’s website.