H
Harry Hope
Guest
From Reuters, 10/26/07:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26366100.htm
US agency apologizes for news conference on fires
By Randall Mikkelsen
WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) -
The U.S. government's main disaster-response agency apologized on
Friday for having its employees pose as reporters in a hastily called
news conference on California's wildfires that no news organizations
attended.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore
its image after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
issued the apology after The Washington Post published details of the
Tuesday briefing.
"We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment,"
FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing,
said in a statement.
"Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the
many questions we have received."
No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency
spokesman Aaron Walker said.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who
has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and
offensive to the secretary."
"We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated
or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said.
She said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding
those responsible.
The agency had called the briefing with about 15 minutes notice as
federal officials headed for southern California to oversee and assist
in firefighting and rescue efforts.
Reporters were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could
not ask questions.
But with no reporters on hand and an agency video camera providing a
feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA press employees
posed the questions for Johnson that included:
"Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"
According to Friday's Post account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson
replied that he was "very happy with FEMA's response so far."
He also said the agency had the benefit of "good leadership" and other
factors, "none of which were present at Katrina."
Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security Department during Katrina.
___________________________________________________
Caught with their pants down.
Harry
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26366100.htm
US agency apologizes for news conference on fires
By Randall Mikkelsen
WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) -
The U.S. government's main disaster-response agency apologized on
Friday for having its employees pose as reporters in a hastily called
news conference on California's wildfires that no news organizations
attended.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore
its image after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
issued the apology after The Washington Post published details of the
Tuesday briefing.
"We can and must do better, and apologize for this error in judgment,"
FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who conducted the briefing,
said in a statement.
"Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the
many questions we have received."
No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency
spokesman Aaron Walker said.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who
has authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and
offensive to the secretary."
"We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated
or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said.
She said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding
those responsible.
The agency had called the briefing with about 15 minutes notice as
federal officials headed for southern California to oversee and assist
in firefighting and rescue efforts.
Reporters were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could
not ask questions.
But with no reporters on hand and an agency video camera providing a
feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA press employees
posed the questions for Johnson that included:
"Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"
According to Friday's Post account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson
replied that he was "very happy with FEMA's response so far."
He also said the agency had the benefit of "good leadership" and other
factors, "none of which were present at Katrina."
Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security Department during Katrina.
___________________________________________________
Caught with their pants down.
Harry
