vision2020
Re: communication (was "Moscow suicide)
It's pretty clear to me that all entities,.... police, coroner and school
district have a shared responsibility to communicate to their respective
constituents when an event has taken place that might affect the health
and well being of our citizens. This is critical when those citizens
include the most vulnerable amoung us, namely our childern and young
adults. Please note the Pullman School District story in tonight's Daily
News. I think we all need to recognize our own fears about what is
happening with the young adults in our community and try our best to avoid
hysteria or the blame game.
Many of us received a letter from the district today with valuable
information on how best to support our children. I appreciated the
communication and the concern expressed. As a parent, my preference is to
have information as soon as possible but certainly not at the expense of a
grieving family. I agree though with Bill's rationale for getting the
information out to the public. Perhaps there will be an appropriate time in
the future for those entities to examine their effectiveness and make any
necessary adjustment in their roles and or communication protocols.
John Cronin
> From: Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com>
> To: Leo E. Ames <leoames@moscow.com>
> Cc: vision2020@moscow.com
> Subject: Re: communication (was "Moscow suicide)
> Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 4:38 PM
>
> Leo,
> Actually, I think the appropriate person to release this information was
> the police or the coroner, after consulting with the family. The school
> district did a good job of informing their students and parents, but it
> isni't their responsibility to make the public announcement.
>
> Lois
>
> ----------
> > From: Leo E. Ames <leoames@moscow.com>
> > To: lmelina@moscow.com
> > Cc: vision2020@moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: communication (was "Moscow suicide)
> > Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 3:16 PM
> >
> > I always appreciate your considered comments, Lois, but I don't think a
> > "community relations officer or public relations person" is needed to
> > answer some basic questions from a media editor such as Diane Petit, or
> to
> > place the phone call later, nor a "PR student" in an unfunded
internship.
> I
> > hope we don't put too much emphasis on finding a person or filter-layer
> > between the professionals in law enforcement and the media. A PR
student
> > (unfunded intern) is best used in facilitating positive relations
before
> or
> > anticipating an act, not in interpreting after a disaster. "Spin
> doctoring"
> > isn't what's needed at that time. It's direct communication between
> > experienced professionals.
> > Obviously, I tend to agree with Bill London's concern. Of course,
> > we all make mistakes in judgement and most often will be second-guessed
> in
> > proportion with the severity of an incident.
> > I may be misperceiving your intent, Lois; in any case I'll read on.
> >
> > ...Leo Ames
> > ,,,Moscow
> >
> > >The reason that there was no press release issued or other
communication
> > >with the public is probably (my opinion) because there is no one in
the
> > >district with that as their primary responsibility. There is no
> community
> > >relations officer (or public relations person). While there may be
> people
> > >who take on that role from time to time, my undertanding is that is
not
> > >their primary responsibility, and on Tuesday afternoon, everyone was
> busy
> > >enough with their primary responsibilities, and doing a darn good job
at
> > >that.
> > >
> > >With the district budget requiring a cut in staff, it is doubtful that
> > >we'll see a community relations officer added to the budget any time
> soon.
> > >
> > >The parent advisory committee at the high school tried to find a
public
> > >relations intern from one of the universities for this spring, but did
> not
> > >get a response to our request. I believe we are still looking for one
in
> > >the fall. If anyone knows a PR student who would like an unfunded
> > >internship, have them contact me.
> > >
> > >Lois Melina
> > >
> > >
> > >*****************************
> > >Lois Melina
> > >Editor, "Adopted Child" newsletter
> > >P.O. Box 9362
> > >Moscow ID 83843 USA
> > >1-208-882-1794
> > >orders: 1-888-882-1794
> > >fax: 1-208-883-8035
> > >Email: Lmelina@moscow.com
> > >http://www.raisingadoptedchildren.com
> >
> >
> > <http://users.moscow.com/leoames>
> >
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