By Mark Kraham, RTNDA Chairman-Elect

Word spreads quickly that there’s been some sort of explosion in a heavily populated portion of the city. How should the media and emergency personnel respond and at the same time communicate effectively with all necessary parties? That was the topic discussed during the RTNDF workshop, “News and Terrorism: Communicating in a Crisis.”

The tone of the day’s workshop was set as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made opening remarks. Napolitano indicated the need to be supportive of the media as they inform and educate the public in a crisis situation.

President of the National Academy of Engineering, Charles Vest, observed that “the media often finds itself suddenly in the hot-seat as the public looks to them for information on a critical event.” He went on to point out the importance of keeping news agencies well informed as they in turn alert the public.

The method and manner of sharing information during a crisis was the focus as the discussion got underway. PBS anchor Aaron Brown moderated the workshop and kept the scenario moving as he popped questions to the panel.

“I suppose by this point in the situation you’ve been hearing traffic on the scanner?” he said to WBAL Radio News Director Mark Miller, speaking of the mock disaster the panel was analyzing.

Miller noted that with the level of communications now readily available to the public, phone calls and text messages often precede scanner traffic. Miller continued that these “early reports” can be recorded for later use until exact information on the nature of the crisis can be identified by the proper agencies.

Other panelists discussed the communications links between their respective organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security, police, fire, and other first responders.

“This is good to consider the questions we may be asked by the media”, said Robert Maloney, “it offers a different perspective.”

More than 100 were in attendance at the workshop held in Baltimore. It was produced by the RTNDF in association with the National Academies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.