NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR MARINE POLLUTION FROM SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS
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10. MEDIA
Associated
with Appendix L (Working with the Media)
Introduction
10.1
A major maritime incident is of immediate interest to the local media and, depending
on the scale and nature of the incident, will result in national and international media attention.
It is in the public interest and the interest of all concerned to keep the media informed as fully
and as regularly as possible. Failure to consider the media response at an early stage may have
serious implications for the management of the whole incident.
Media team and designated press officer
10.2
From the outset of an incident, MCA ensures that it has an adequate media response
team in place, working to a Designated Press Officer. One of the team’s roles is to liaise on
behalf of MCA and the SOSREP with the press and other Government press offices (for example, the DfT
and DTI press offices). In particular, it is the task of the Designated Press Officer to advise
the MCA and the SOSREP on media relations, to arrange press conferences, and to issue regular news bulletins.
10.3 It is essential that the media team ensure that the media do not interfere with the operational activity of the emergency services or harass casualties.
10.4 Further details of the suggested procedure for dealing with the media from the outset of a major incident are at Appendix L.
Ministerial and VIP visits
10.5
It is inevitable that, in the case of a major or high profile incident, a Minister
will wish to visit the scene. A designated MCA senior officer will escort Ministers or other VIPs
on such occasions - whether from central Government, a devolved administration or a Government Agency
- at all times.
10.6 The media team must consider how to accommodate a Minister and any Ministerial press conference on site and advise DfT and/or DTI Press Office accordingly. The media team may be under resourced and have difficulty in coping with both the media response and the VIP visit. Consideration should be given at an early stage to enlisting the assistance of the nearest Government News Network (GNN) office to handle either the visit or to help with the incident media response. See also Appendix L.
Liaison with other government departments
and agencies
10.7 The media team must establish
and then maintain a line of communication with the DfT and/or DTI Press Offices to keep them informed
of the progress of an operational response. In addition, appropriate officials must stand ready
during the course of the response to provide any advice or draft statements requested by Ministers or
Press Office.
10.8 In the case of an incident occurring in an area covered by a devolved administration or within a port, the media team must establish and maintain a line of communication with the press office of the devolved administration, harbour authority or local authority/EHS to keep them informed of progress. The media team should also look at the possibility of forming a joint press office or media centre.