English abstract
This study sheds light on the coverage in the Omani Arabic daily newspapers, particularly Alwatan, Oman, and Al Shabiba, of Guno and Phet cyclones that hit the Sultanate of Oman in 2007 and 2010 respectively. The study aims to analyze that newspapers coverage before, during, and after the cyclones. The study aims also to compare the different aspects of the coverage of these two crises.
In this descriptive study, the researcher used content analysis to describe and analyze the newspapers' coverage of the two cyclones in terms of size and type of attention given in both sets of coverage. The results of this analysis will help to identify the lessons that the newspapers learned from the coverage of the first cyclone; Guno, and how these newspapers made use of this experience in the coverage of the second one; Phet.
The results of the study reflect two types of indicators. The first indicators show that the newspapers under study professionally benefited from their coverage of the first cyclone (Guno, 2007), and actually made use of that experience in their coverage of the second one (Phet, 2010). The second indicators, however, demonstrate that the newspapers under study failed to make any major professional development when they were covering the second cyclone. Even if these developments existed, they were so insignificant that they would barely deserve any mention. The first indicators are supported by the following results: more attention was given to publishing information about the cyclone in important pages and locations, substantial increase in the representation of important topics such as cyclone development, and more expanded attention was given to the victims. On the other hand, the second indicators are supported by the following results: less space was allocated for the coverage, fewer news items were published, lack of analytical coverage, and newspapers' failure to depend on columnists. Furthermore, the newspapers relied heavily on formal news-making sources at the expense of other sources such as experts, citizens, victims' families, witnesses, and religious leaders.
When comparing the two types of indicators, it becomes evident that there was lack of a clear vision based on a specific strategy and well-developed plan as the positive indicators did not go beyond simple differences and small percentages. This comparison, however, confirms that the newspapers under study have not taken their coverage up to the required level appropriate with the significance and magnitude of the event.
