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5.4.8 Media

1. Centralize Information to the Press – “Other actions that facilitate success and can be adopted routinely in any large-scale operation include identifying the public information officers and a lead spokesperson to centralize the messages delivered to the press. The regular meetings of unit leaders kept everyone at the scene informed and marginalized information coming from multiple directions.”
   I-95 Shutdown: Coordinating Transportation and Emergency Response

2. Develop Ongoing Relationships with the Media and the Community – “Ongoing contact programs made relationships with the community and the media more effective and efficient.”
   Southern California Firestorm 2003: Report for the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

3. “Establish Communications Relationships with Various Media Outlets – Most of the public turn to the media (television, radio, or the Internet) to gain information during an emergency. Several transportation agencies were frustrated on August 14 because they had difficulty getting the proper information to the media and the media was reporting inaccurate information.”
   Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: August 2003 Northeast Blackout New York City

4. Use the Media to Your Advantage—Determine Who Says What – “You cannot over-plan for dealing with the media. Plan for a credentialing system, determine who says what, set a schedule for media briefings, use media to your advantage.”
   Oklahoma City: Seven Years Later: Lessons for Other Communities

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February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015