The Process of Decision-Making in a Crisis Situation and the Role of Media

Despite the diversity of their nature, all crises have a few features in common such as the paucity of time for decision-making and the too much pressure they exert in that limited period of time. Decision-making is a process during which several alternative solutions to one or more problems are proposed, and then the best option is conclusively assessed and finally chosen. Decision-making in a crisis situation is much more sensitive and riskier than normal situations. Sometimes a critical situation requires no decisions. Taking no measures in such a condition, whether consciously or unconsciously, is a kind of decision itself.In a crisis-hit system, media are able to play a positive or negative role directly or indirectly in the process of decision-making. Media can also thwart misuses of the government, groups, and powerful individuals by shedding lights on facts and crisis situations. By playing stories up or down and influencing certain individuals and groups, they can furthermore exert pressure on decision-makers and make the situation critical or make them imagine the situation is critical so that they could not make the proper decision.