[cma-l] Major Incident Planning

[Alan Coote]

Here’s my experience;

For national events it’s wise to have an Obit' process in place, written down and all presenters made aware of it. As minimum have a Obit' safe music log. That will at least give you time to decided what to do next. 

I’m sure there are people on this list with more experience of reporting news than I.

For local major events you could be the first media on the scene - as I was once at the sad crash and death of a Red Arrow pilot.   

My advise is NOT to air information which could prove later to be incorrect, number of casualties, names etc, etc. Sounds easy, but if you're first to report the story, there is a temptation to give away more than is prudent.  

The emergency services are very guarded these days so you’ll not get much from them. Local witnesses will give you more but that information needs corroborating.       

Usually within an hour BBC / ITV / SKY have local reporters on the scene and the area is cordoned off by the emergency services. 

Social media will also be full of information and my guess is that you’ll not have the resources to keep up with the pace. Your local knowledge could then help as you may know people who can give you a better understanding of what happened.  

Finally, don’t be put off or intimidated by covering a major incident. If you have a smartphone you have all you need to capture audio and video and report live to your studio.      

Kind Regards
Alan
 
Alan Coote





On 26/11/2015, 11:20, "Darren Holmes - Penistone FM" <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk on behalf of darren.holmes at penistonefm.co.uk> wrote:

>Eddie,
>
>Our plan would be to opt straight in to IRN, who would be doing an additional bulletin on the half hour and feeding Sky News Tv audio in between the bulletins, at an appropriate time we would resume with melodic music but no sweepers/adverts/features etc working back up to normal programming. 
>
>We have a Regional, ILR and Small Commercial station in our patch, so we would carefully monitor how quickly they return to normal programming so as not to be out of step and disrespectful to the situation.
>
>That said there is an argument that we should do some different, the death of HRH wouldn't effect me personally for example and I would want radio to continue as normal I between bulletins, but it's a sensitive subject and you have to be mindful of your listeners who will have a range of reactions to what you do. 
>
>Thanks
>Darren
>
>Darren Holmes
>Programme Director
>Penistone FM
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On 26 Nov 2015, at 01:03, Eddie Stuart <eddie at kcr.fm> wrote:
>> 
>> Until a year ago, KCR only operated as a weekday evening only community opt-out from the local ILR station - Moray Firth Radio - which I believe was a unique MFR set up.
>> 
>> When we got our own licence and became footloose & fancy free (!!) we were aware that there were many areas where being under the wing of MFR had shielded us from aspects of the outside world. A learning curve was required....
>> 
>> In many ways, imposing procedures on an organisation that has been running for 18 years is far harder than on a new start up...... we have had a major "It's always been done this way" problem to overcome.....
>> 
>> One subject which had been discussed but taken no further so far is Major Incident Planning - discussions back then had revolved around the age of HM & the DofE.
>> 
>> We're aware that ILR stations have to have certain procedures in place but following Paris, wondered what the CR stations are planning to do regarding their output in the event of the death of HM, a major terrorist attack in this country (close to home), the assassination of a major figure etc....
>> 
>> Many thanks,
>> 
>> Eddie Stuart
>> 
>> -- 
>> KCR broadcasts across Moray and beyond on 107.7FM
>> and to the world on the internet at http://kcr.fm
>> 
>> KCR is the operating name of Keith Community Radio Ltd.
>> Registered in Scotland: No SC 173805
>> Registered Office: 59a Land Street, Keith, Banffshire, AB55 5AN
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>> 
>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>_______________________________________________
>
>Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
>The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
>Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
>http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
>_______________________________________________
>
>Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
>_______________________________________________
>
>To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
>http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l