F.E.M.A. SORRY FOR FAKE CONFERENCE

[Anonymous]

Fema sorry for ‘fake’ conference
The
US Federal Emergency Management Administration has apologised for
having its employees pose as reporters at a hastily arranged news
conference.No actual reporters were able to attend Fema’s televised
briefing on the fires in California on Tuesday because they were only
been given 15 minutes notice.

Instead, press officers asked
questions many described as soft and gratuitous.A spokeswoman for
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the incident
“inexcusable and offensive”.”We have made it clear that stunts such as
this will not be tolerated or repeated,” Laura Keehner said, adding
that the department was considering whether or not to reprimand those
responsible.

‘Error of judgement’
Fema employees posed as
reporters at Tuesday’s “news briefing” with Deputy Administrator Harvey
Johnson because an agency was providing a live video feed to US TV
networks, according to the Washington Post.Six questions were posed by
the Fema officials and Mr Johnson even used the typical practice of
calling for a “last question”.”I’m very happy with Fema’s response,” Mr
Johnson said in reply to one query from an employee.After the
Washington Post published details of the briefing, which one of its
reporters listened to by phone, Mr Johnson apologised for the “error of
judgement” and promised to do better in future.”Our intent was to
provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we
have received,” he said in a statement.”We are reviewing our press
procedures and will make the changes necessary to ensure that all of
our communications are straight forward and transparent.”Fema was
widely criticised for its response to Hurricane Katrina. Its former
administrator, Michael Brown, was forced to resign despite President
George W Bush initially declaring he was doing a “heck of a job”.

[Author]

October 29, 2007 at 12:14 PM