[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
One easy solution is to let the press know that any questions regarding glider accidents can directed to ONE person at GFA. That person would be able to allay such concerns as "flimsy aircraft at the mercy of the wind"
You stole my idea right out of my mouth mate ! To be specific, I think we need to do two things. One, create a central point in GFA for reporting all accidents / incidents and information "as it happens" or immediately after. Two, create a SINGLE MEDIA LIAISON point, ie, a "GFA Media Liaison Officer", if you will, ie, ONE phone number, for the media to call. To go a bit further, I think we need to consider creating a "GFA Duty Officer" position, staffed at any one time by one of a number of suitable people, RTO types, ie, have them rostered, but with ONE phone number only known to GFA people, that can be redirected to whoever the duty officer is on any given day / weekend / whatever. Then, when an incident occurs, that one person becomes the receiver of all information from the site, the club concerned, etc. Further, it should become mandatory for local / involved GFA members to report in ASAP, so that the facts are gathered ASAP, AND it should also be mandatory that NO MEDIA INTERVIEWS be given by those local / on scene, AND that it be mandatory that those people refer the media immediately to the "GFA Media Liaison Officer" and website. Then, the "Duty Officer" creates a press brief, updates it as necessary, and (a) briefs the GFA Media Liaison Officer for media interviews, and (b) puts the details on the GFA website (as someone else suggested), just like the ATSB does with the accidents they investigate. In short, the only way to stop the media reporting crap, and worse, is to "feed the media" what WE want them to say. You can only do that if you are pro-active, and "ON THE BALL". Only my 2c. Regards.
Peter Creswick E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] Land Line 02 9718 4841 Mobile/SMS 0401 758 025
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