[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page H 7976]]


  TRIBUTE ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS 
                              ASSOCIATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (Mr. HORN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, for the past half century the members of the 
National Press Photographers Association have shared memorable, moving, 
and information images with our Nation and the world. In the process, 
they have documented the last half of the 20th century with photographs 
and pictures that have made us smile and others that have wrenched our 
hearts.
  Who can forget the sight of man's first step on the Moon or the 
jubilance of the United States hockey team's victory over the sport-
dominating Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics; the newly widowed 
Jacqueline Kennedy holding the hand of a young John F. Kennedy, Jr.; 
and, especially memorable, the five marines and the Navy corpsman 
raising the American flag on Iwo Jima?
  These images and so many more like them have defined our perceptions 
of history. They are the press photographers' gifts to all of us.
  To provide us with these memories, press photographers have often 
accepted great physical risks--even the possibility of death--to be the 
eyes and ears of the American public and the public throughout the 
world. Their dedication is to be admired.
  On the 50th anniversary of the National Press Photographers 
Association, I join with this Nation in saying, ``Thank you for all 
that you have given us.''
  In the true spirit of the National Press Photographers Association, 
members have been working to ensure that we continue to be the 
recipients of the informative and instructional nature of their work, 
especially in times of disaster and emergency.
  Through their experience, they know of the necessity for a harmonious 
working relationship between the public safety and the journalistic 
communities so that accurate, even lifesaving information, can be 
passed on very quickly to the waiting public. It is through this goal 
that the National Press Photographers Association created the 
``National Media Guide for Emergency & Disaster Incidents'' which has 
been just published.
  Laws can easily be based on this document, and we will be very 
carefully looking at them at the national level. I would hope that 
State legislatures would also look at the guidelines that have been 
made available for the use of police chiefs, sheriffs, and other law 
enforcement officers.
  They have brought together, with the collaboration of over 100 media 
and public safety representatives throughout the United States, this 
National Media Guide, which reflects the best public information 
procedures from police, fire, and other emergency providers across 
America. It is a compilation of guidelines developed by highly 
experienced individuals, which ensure that journalists and public 
safety officials can work quickly and efficiently to keep the public 
informed in disaster situations.
  I am delighted that Bob Riha, Jr., a photographer for USA Today in 
the West, who lives in Long Beach, is the cochair of the National Press 
Photographers Association Police-Fire-Press Relations Committee. He is 
joined, as cochair, by David Handschuh, staff photographer with the New 
York Daily News.
  By working together, these leaders of the photographers, the media, 
the public safety representatives can all help benefit and enhance our 
images and the public information possibilities in the case of 
emergencies and disasters. This Nation has had many in recent years. 
Earthquakes, floods, fires, tornadoes, typhoons, you name it, we have 
had them all. There is a need for such guidelines, when it comes to 
saving lives and property.
  Mr. Chairman, I salute this effort. I congratulate the National Press 
Photographers Association for its continuing efforts to keep the public 
informed. Theirs is a community spirit that is enviable and a 
dedication to duty that is an inspiration. What they have provided for 
us is a basis for law that will assure that the public's right to know 
is fulfilled in this land.
  Mr. Speaker, I attach a summary of the ``National Media Guide'' whose 
ideas should interest Federal and State legislators and those public 
officials involved in the media coverage of the emergency activities 
related to a disaster.
        NATIONAL MEDIA GUIDE FOR EMERGENCY & DISASTER INCIDENTS


                                FOREWORD

       Throughout the United States, public safety agencies have 
     standard operating procedures to guide operations during 
     emergencies and disasters. Some of these identify policies 
     and procedures to use when news media are at the scene of an 
     incident. Laws and policies will vary agency to agency and 
     jurisdiction to jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Media access 
     laws and procedures used in California or New York, may not 
     be legal or utilized in other states. When media 
     representatives are denied access to an emergency or disaster 
     scene, the flow of information to the public is restricted. 
     During certain emergencies, such as hazardous materials 
     incidents, the flow of information to the public could be a 
     matter of life or death.
       In 1994, the National Press Photographers Association 
     (NPPA) appointed photo-journalists Bob Riha, Jr., in Long 
     Beach and David Handschuh in New York as Co-Chairs of NPPA's 
     Police-Fire-Press Relations Committee. Their assignment was 
     to write a guidance document for journalists and public 
     safety officials to use during emergencies. NPPA is a non-
     profit professional organization of more than 10,000 members 
     worldwide including news photographers, television camera 
     operators, freelance photographers and editors.


                               objectives

       The objectives of the National Media Guide are to:
       Establish Standard Operating Procedures nationally for 
     media & public safety representatives that respond to 
     emergency and disaster incidents--taking into consideration 
     specific needs both sides have to do their jobs effectively.
       Establish media access guidelines and criteria for media 
     access to emergency, investigation and crime scene areas.
       Education media representatives & public safety officials 
     on proper media access procedures and address problem areas 
     and give solutions to those problems.
       Develop a guidebook which could be used at journalism 
     colleges & universities including public safety training 
     academies to educate `rookie' journalists & officials on how 
     to work with each other during emergencies.
       Develop a guidance document to assist Public Information 
     Officers.
                          national media guide

       The National Media Guide for Emergency & Disaster Incidents 
     is a 90-page document that contains guidelines for media and 
     public safety representatives that respond to emergency & 
     disaster incidents. The guidebook contains guidelines for 
     media representatives, local agencies, state agencies and the 
     Federal Government. It was written with contributions from 
     over 100 media and public safety representatives nationwide. 
     Advisors contacted for this document came from all regions of 
     the United States including: Hawaii, California, Washington, 
     Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky, 
     Florida, New York, Utah, Iowa, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, 
     Maryland, Indiana and New Hampshire.


                                 topics

       The National Media Guide for Emergency & Disaster Incidents 
     contains information on many subjects including:
       Media Identification, Barrier Tape Guidelines, Command 
     Post/Media Information Centers, Private Property 
     Considerations, Wildland Fire Incidents, National 
     Transportation Safety Board Incidents, Undercover Incidents, 
     Media and The Military, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     Media Vehicle Identification, Media Access Photo Sites, Media 
     Access, Hazardous Materials Incidents, Special Weapons/
     Tactics Team, Bomb Squad Incidents, Media Aircraft 
     Guidelines, Media Access into Indian Lands, U.S. Department 
     of Justice.


                               conclusion

       The National Media Guide points out that:
       Nationally, only California and Ohio have Statutory Laws 
     for media access into emergency & disaster scenes. California 
     has PC409.5(D); Ohio has PC2917.13(B).
       Media representatives are identified by possessing a media 
     identification card issued by local law enforcement agency or 
     an identification card issued by the media organization. 
     Authorized media representatives work for bona-fide, news 
     gathering media organizations. Public safety agencies should 
     have a policy of accepting media identification issued from 
     agencies outside their immediate jurisdiction.
       Coordination with the media, especially radio and 
     television are essential in informing the public during 
     emergencies and major disasters. Use of media notification 
     sources can assist 1st responders at the scene in dispersing 
     emergency instructions and information in the shortest amount 
     of time.
       Training is needed for journalists, public safety 
     representatives and Public Information Officers that respond 
     to emergency and disaster incidents within the United States.
       The public has a Right-To-Know and demands information 
     during emergencies.
     

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