Emergency Response - Working with the Media

This chapter concerns co-operation with the media at the scene of an emergency.

It includes information on:

• the role of the News Co-ordination Centre;
• warning and informing the public
• the challenges of working with the media
• co-ordinating media liaison
• working effectively with the media in emergencies;
• media arrangements at the scene of an emergency;
• specific issues for consideration, including the release of casualty figures, interviews with survivors, remote access and VIP visits
• media debriefs

Media interest, can create pressure 24 hours a day. Careful planning of staggered handovers between shifts is essential.

Case studies from recent emergencies are included in section 8.10.

• Emergency Response and Recovery: Chapter 8 - Working with the Media [PDF]

Key Documents

You should refer to:

• Emergency Preparedness
  • Chapter 7 - "Communicating with the public" (pp93-108)
    • Annex 7A: "Communicating with the public: the national context "
    • Annex 7B: "Lead responsibility for warning and informing the public"
    • Annex 7C: "Checklist of suggested protocols"
• The BBC's Connecting in a Crisis guide [external website] - An initiative designed to ensure that their own local radio station producers have established appropriate contacts with emergency planners, the police and other key organisations in their localities.
• Media Emergency Forum - Annual Reports

Key Links

• Preparing for Emergencies [external website]
• COI’s News Distribution Service (formerly GNN) [external website]
• Government Communications Network (GCN) [external website]
• National Steering Committee for Warning and Informing the Public (NSCWIP)
• UK Press Card [external website]

Training

The Emergency Planning College (EPC) [external website] is a training provider for emergency preparedness, attracting delegates with responsibility for preventing, planning for, responding to or recovering from a major incident. The EPC runs courses on the care of people as well as other aspects of civil protection.

Other Links

You may also wish to refer to:

• 10 Downing Street Latest News [external website]
• Direct Gov Newsroom [external website]
• Info4Local [external website]