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Journalists are supposed to be unbiased observers who just watch what happens, ask questions, gather the facts as best as possible and allow the reader to interpret them. Most of the time we manage to adhere to this rule, but there are times when we unwittingly play a role.
Wednesday morning I heard on the newsroom’s police scanner that a drill was about to get underway in Green Valley.
Local fire departments and rescue squads were going to respond to a mock disaster; in this case, a major school bus crash.
I was about to head for Athens to cover a symposium at Concord University, so I made a mental note to get a picture. I figured people were going to see the drill or hear about the “school bus crash,” so it was best to get a photograph and/or story before a rumor started spurring concerned people to call us.
I arrived at the parking lot next door to the Mercer County Health Department and immediately found the scene I had expected. Rescue squad members and fire fighters were working on “victims” from the school bus. The “crash” vehicles were from the Bluefield Transit Authority.
After parking well away from the scene, I grabbed my equipment — camera, pad and pen — and walked over to where some “victims” were being treated. I spotted Tim Farley, director of the Mercer County Office of Emergency Services and a fire fighter who was in full gear at that moment. We exchanged greetings and chatted for a moment, and then he asked me, “How did you get past security?”
What security?
I just parked and walked into the action. Then I was told that somebody was supposed to stop me and direct me to the information officer.
Well, it seems that I had played a role. An actual member of the media had showed up just like the media would show up at a real emergency and started searching for information. I imagine during the drill’s review it was going to be pointed out that you need to watch all possible avenues of entry and direct the media to the designated spokesperson.
Managing Editor Samantha Perry says that a notepad and a confident wave can get you into any place, and I’d have to say that’s true.
Dress appropriately, carry an official looking notepad or clipboard and you look like you belong; the ensemble gives you an air of authority.
I’ve been mistaken for a state inspector, a doctor, a federal employee and a manager at Wal-Mart. Of course, I never say I’m any of those things, but people just assume you’re some sort of professional. They’re right, but they get the profession wrong.
I have to admit that I would likely make the same mistake and let an unauthorized person sail right into a nuclear power plant. When you’re in a busy scene — and this mock disaster was very busy — the right look acts as camouflage.
What I would learn from letting a reporter into what’s supposed to be a life threatening situation is to introduce yourself if somebody you’ve never seen before suddenly shows up. In this instance, I was guided to the designated public information officer — I taught her that reporters often want cell phone numbers because they sometimes can’t hang around — and she learned to give me the available information and to “gently guide me away” so I wouldn’t start pestering the site manager. I’d say she did a good job.
The whole point of these mock disasters is to make mistakes and learn from them.
If there are problems with communications, technique, security and the other essential elements of an emergency response, you want to discover them during a drill. T
he fact emergency responders were taking time out of their already busy days in order to perfect their techniques just shows how dedicated they are to getting everything right.
Each of them understands that the next disaster could easily be a real one demanding their utmost, so they hone their skills and get ready for what they hope will not happen.
Greg Jordan is a reporter for the Daily Telegraph. Contact him at gjordan@bdtonline.com.
Columns
July 29, 2010
Notepad, confident wave: Journalist gives lesson at mock disaster
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