More than two years after 9/11, many newsrooms still don't have a crisis plan to follow in the event of another terrorist attack, and many communities have emergency plans that overlook the crucial role of the media in responding to a disaster. So says the Radio-TV News Director's Association, which is planning to produce workshops to cast a light on the problem.
RTNDA plans to produce 10 workshops to review communication in a time of crisis -what works and what needs work - as well as to provide background on potential terrorist threats and guidance on how journalists and public information officers can better prepare for a disaster.
The workshop series, "News and Terrorism: Communicating in a Crisis," will feature a scenario exercise, tailored for each session, in which a small group of journalists, government officials and experts react to a simulated terrorist incident - be that chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear. The daylong program also will include scientific information, self-protection advice and disaster planning. RTNDF will draw on the resources of the National Academies and the Department of Homeland Security to develop the program.
The program will kick off in Chicago on July 22. Additional workshops are planned for Portland, Ore. (August), Kansas City (September), Philadelphia area (October), Miami (December), Austin (January 2005), Atlanta (March 2005), San Francisco (April 2005), Denver (June 2005) and Boston (July 2005). Dates and locations are subject to change.
For more information, contact Sue Ducat at sue@rtndf.org.
(from Radio World)
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