Government Shuts Down Media Access to NWS

[thermos]

What's going on?

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Commerce_ ... _1004.html

[Agua]

Some jerk in Washington trying to justify a job.

[thermos]

Some jerk in Washington trying to justify a job.

You are probably right. Bureaucratic nonsense.

[Agua]

Check this out - Katrina cleanup in Waveland was for three hours because FEMA implemented a new "rule" that each debris removal truck had to be shown which pile of debris was to be removed. This wasn't one inspector for each contractor, but for each truck, and each pile.

It slowed debris removal from 10 trucks per hour to 1 per hour. The workers blocked the road in protest and the new regulation was removed.

[dhweather]

Check this out - Katrina cleanup in Waveland was for three hours because FEMA implemented a new "rule" that each debris removal truck had to be shown which pile of debris was to be removed. This wasn't one inspector for each contractor, but for each truck, and each pile.

It slowed debris removal from 10 trucks per hour to 1 per hour. The workers blocked the road in protest and the new regulation was removed.

I saw that on TV last night - how absurd!

[SamSagnella]

I think the title of this thread is a little misleading -- they're not shutting off media access, they're just requiring approval before an interview is granted.

Maybe this will stop idiot reporters that know NOTHING about meteorology from publishing stories that are RIDDLED with inaccuracies regarding the subject at hand. I know I've seen that happen more than a few times...

EDIT:

St. John asserts the media policy was simply “updated” and is not a mandatory directive. Rather, he says it is a set of guidelines to ensure that weather service employees report back to him “when they’ve spoken to someone.”

I dont think this is as big of a deal as it seems upon first glance.

[MBismyPlayground]

Check this out - Katrina cleanup in Waveland was for three hours because FEMA implemented a new "rule" that each debris removal truck had to be shown which pile of debris was to be removed. This wasn't one inspector for each contractor, but for each truck, and each pile.

It slowed debris removal from 10 trucks per hour to 1 per hour. The workers blocked the road in protest and the new regulation was removed.

off topic, but how is it in Waveland now??? Our city, Myrtle Beach has adopted the city of Waveland, so just curious.

[Agua]

DH may be able to tell you. I haven't travelled anywhere but my home and to work (Biloxi).

[thermos]

That's not how the free press is supposed to work tho Sam. Stupid reporters get to ask questions too.

[dhweather]

DH may be able to tell you. I haven't travelled anywhere but my home and to work (Biloxi).

DH will be going through Waveland and BSL this afternoon, camera in hand.

[Frank2]

Some agencies have that policy - including mine - and if the Director, Acting Director, etc., is not present when the media call comes in, we refer it to our Public Affairs officer, so, it's really nothing new, but it does help to keep control over those sneaky journalists who will try just about anything to get a comment from someone - or anyone.

What I do question is the web site that this article was "leaked" to - it seems that this issue might have been taken out of context (for example, it might be concerning Hurricane Katrina-related inquiries only, since many deaths are involved, some of which may already involve litigation by the surviving families).

If this becomes a story with the large media outlets, then it'll have a bit more credibility...

Frank

[SamSagnella]

That's not how the free press is supposed to work tho Sam. Stupid reporters get to ask questions too.

Yes, of course. However, with a situation such as a landfalling hurricane, if a reporter miscommunicates information from the NWS because of a basic lack of understanding, wouldn't it would be more responsible for someone who 'knows their stuff' to take the reigns.

lol, it's sometimes hard to convey a point of view accurately when posting it on an online forum -- I am a huge supporter of the concept of a free press, but in SPECIFIC situations, such as the one above, it seems that it is negligent to feed the public misinformation (whether intentionally or unintentionally) when there is someone more knowlegeable on hand.

[AZRainman]

Looks like under the revision and blanket gag order can effect the professional mets here. Posting here may constitute violation of the NOAA’s media policy and employee risks termination.

[conestogo_flood]

Pretty soon you guys will need to be checked before making a finger movement. Y'all better stop this before it goes to far.

[Aslkahuna]

I'm retired and can say anything I please. However, this is direct fallout from Max Mayfield's public statements contradicting Bush and Jerkoff's statements about not anticipating the flooding in NOLA. Next, you will probably hear that Max is retiring.

Steve