The Press, Friend or Foe?

Any time we have a response to a natural disaster or terrorist incident there will be extensive news coverage. Every decision will be public knowledge and can have political, economic, and even life and death consequences. In the textbook, Huder says as emergency planners it is important to understand the role of the press, what the public needs to know, and how we should manage the information flow. Decide whether the press is a friend or a foe in your local area. What are the basic rules that decision makers need to adhere to when talking to the press? How can decision makers and emergency planners enlist the press to support the emergency response? Should the public rely on the press to provide accurate information?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.