Media Use During a Crisis

The media functioned well in meeting the extraordinary demands for information and communication during the crisis of September 11, and people used multiple sources of information.

Abstract

After learning about the crisis of September 11, Americans overwhelmingly turned to television for more information. However, people used multiple sources of information. The Web and e-mail appear to have played important but secondary roles to television and the telephone. Overall, the media functioned well in meeting the extraordinary demands for information and communication.