The following guidelines are designed to help public safety agencies determine when to use the media paging system and what information should be included.
1. When to use the system
Any breaking news that requires an immediate response or when you know all the media in the area are going to be asking questions, such as:
Homicides
Major fires
Missing persons that involve a child, health problems or suspicious circumstances
Drownings
Train crashes
Any type of accidents with deaths or life-threatening injuires
Bank robberies
Major threats to public safety
What information should be included
What happened?
When did it happen?
Who is involved? Age, gender and hometown should still be released even if names cannot be. Names should be spelled at the end of the message.
Where did it happen?
Who is the contact person and a phone number for follow-up later?
Where is the media staging area and who is the person in charge?
What, if any, charges were brought?
If injuries are involved, which hospitals took patients?
When will more information be available?
Other reminders
Public safety agencies should include all available information in the media page. Media should use that information and not call the agency for more, unless the information needs clarification.
A media page should NEVER be used for political gain or soft releases such as open houses, D.A.R.E. programs, fire safety awareness programs, etc.