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Interim Report - November 2001

Media Issues

Terms of reference
The Media Issues Group was established to progress a number of recommendations arising at the National Workshop. In addition, the terms of reference were widened to include, inter alia, the raising of awareness amongst national media as to the need to inform local communities of small-scale emergencies.

Membership
A number of meetings were held involving representatives of the emergency services, industry, local government, Central Office of Information, public utilities and national media outlets.

It was identified at an early stage that no statutory obligations exist on broadcasters regarding emergency announcements and that broadcasters must retain editorial control. However, it was also evident that broadcasters were able to provide early warning information to communities at risk, recognising their public duty in addition to providing "news" stories.

Service level agreements
There was agreement that written statements of intent, or service level agreements, are unnecessary and that there is good evidence that public warning information is readily disseminated by broadcasters. It was also recognised that commercial concerns and the emergency services may wish to consider paying for advertisements, which can be quickly assembled and which are not subject to editorial control by the broadcaster. These advertisements would, however, not be for public warning information but rather to provide advice, particularly regarding a return to normality following such an incident.

Role of Lead Government Departments
The group still has concerns regarding the role of lead government departments in widespread incidents, and it is considered desirable that the Cabinet Office, as owner of emergency planning at central government, addresses this issue.

Planning the Media/Public Information response to a major emergency
Throughout the UK there are some examples of good practice in involving the media in preparations for responding to a major emergency. From these it is clear that there are slightly different requirements when planning to:

• Deal with the Media: i.e. those measures required to co-ordinate the response to media enquiries, and meeting their news-gathering needs.

• Issue Public Information: i.e. those measures needed to co-ordinate the dissemination of advice, guidance, warnings, information and public safety matters.

Public Service Broadcasting remit of the BBC
It is generally accepted that the BBC has a public service broadcasting remit and that local BBC radio stations have an important role to play in disseminating public information during major emergencies.

Not all emergency planning areas are however covered by a single local BBC radio station and there can be lack of clarity as to which of the local BBC editing managers need to be involved in emergency preparations. This can often be the case in those areas surrounding a large conurbation, such as the Home Counties where part of the area can be covered by the London local radio stations.

The percentage of the population who regularly tune into local BBC radio stations is outlined in paragraph 2 of Appendix D [PDF 106KB].

It is important therefore that local publicity makes it clear which frequency members of the population need to tune into and to this end the BBC should provide clear information to local emergency planning agencies of the broadcasting footprints of their local stations.

At the time of writing this report the NSC and the BBC were working with the Cabinet Office to develop revised guidance on:

• the role of the BBC and its public service broadcasting remit

• good practice in working with the media to develop emergency arrangements for the dissemination of public information

Conclusion
In conclusion, it is considered that the relationship of the emergency services, emergency planning officers, and industry, with the media, generally works well and that to impose any prescriptive formal agreements would be more likely to harm rather than improve the present situation.

It has become clear over the past few years that broadcasters have been very supportive of work to warn and inform communities at risk, and this is evidenced particularly clearly with regard to flood warning arrangements.

Recommendations in respect of media issues
The NSC recommends that

• The Cabinet Office should addresses the role of lead government departments in widespread incidents

• The guidance currently being developed by the Cabinet Office, NSC and the BBC is given wide circulation both to emergency planning agencies and the media as a way of spreading good practice.