News & Terrorism

News and Terrorism: Communicating In a Crisis

A series of workshops produced by the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation in association with the National Academies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

These workshops bring together government officials, members of the media, along with science and technical experts to:

1. Foster a better understanding of how each group responds to a crisis, and
2. Share information about potential terrorist threats

A Journalist's Guide to Covering Bioterrorism--Second Edition

RTNDF has updated "A Journalist's Guide to Covering Bioterrorism," with generous funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Journalists usually are uninvolved observers, reporting on events as they unfold. But as we know all too well--after the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington--when anthrax hit, journalists and news organizations themselves became part of the story.

The very nature of an attack using biological weapons can present a unique set of difficulties and challenges for reporters, editors and producers as they struggle during a rapidly unfolding event to present the facts as clearly, objectively and dispassionately as possible.

To help reporters and producers prepare to tackle these stories; RTNDF has published "A Journalist's Guide to Covering Bioterrorism--Second Edition."

This updated guide features:

• New information about detection efforts
• Specific background on more types of biological weapons
• An expanded list of national and local contacts
• Updates on state involvement in terrorism

This 51-page publication is available for free and immediate download as a two-part PDF file (3 & 8 MB respectively), you'll need Adobe's free Acrobat Reader software to view it.

Download the publication now!

Share this with your colleagues and make it accessible to everyone at your assignment desk.

Bioterrorism Links

Walter Dean article
Walter Dean of NewsLab/Project for Excellence in Journalism wrote this informative essay on terror coverage.

For more information, contact: Nicole Newsome, 202.467.5208 or nicolen@rtnda.org

Covering Terrorism

RTNDA and RTNDF want to help journalists covering the war and issues of national security. Below is a comprehensive, updated list of resources that can help you cope with the changing news environment.

Terrorism Coverage Links

RTNDA has put together a list of useful web sites that will help with coverage of the latest issues affecting your newsroom. Click on the category below to get a list of links.