FEMA employees pose as fake reporters during press conference: Difference between revisions
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The [[United States]] [[w:Federal Emergency Management Agency|Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) is under fire after the agency held a fake press conference with fake news reporters in regards to individuals effected by the [[California]] wildfires and the assistance they could receive. |
The [[United States]] [[w:Federal Emergency Management Agency|Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) is under fire after the agency held a fake press conference with fake news reporters in regards to individuals effected by the [[California]] wildfires and the assistance they could receive. |
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The agency called a press conference on Tuesday, giving the press only 15 minutes to show up. When many |
The agency called a press conference on Tuesday, giving the press only 15 minutes to show up. When many did not, FEMA brought in agency officials to pose as fake reporters and ask questions. The option for reporters to call into the conference was also available, but the ones who did call-in only got to listen to the press conference, and could not ask questions. No reporters were actually present during the conference. |
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Officials who posed as fake reporters included the deputy director of public affairs Cindy Taylor and Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin. |
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[[w:White House|White House]] officials said that they do not condone FEMA's actions and also state that they had no idea that the conference was taking place. |
[[w:White House|White House]] officials said that they do not condone FEMA's actions and also state that they had no idea that the conference was taking place. |
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"[The purpose was] to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment. Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received. We can and must do better," said Harvey E. Johnson, the agency's vice administrator. |
"[The purpose was] to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment. Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received. We can and must do better," said Harvey E. Johnson, the agency's vice administrator. |
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FEMA is currently deciding whether or not any officials should face punishment for the incident. |
FEMA is currently deciding whether or not any officials should face punishment for the incident. |
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This is not the first time that the Bush administration has come under fire for planting reporters at press conferences. In February of 2005, [[w:White House|White House]] reporter [[w:Jeff Gannon|Jeff Gannon]] was accused of being planted to ask softball questions to [[w:George W. Bush|President Bush]]. |
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|author=Randall Mikkelsen |
|author=Randall Mikkelsen |
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|pub=Reuters |
|pub=Reuters |
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|date=October 26, 2007}} |
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*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502488.html |
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|title=FEMA Meets the Press, Which Happens to Be . . . FEMA |
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|author=Al Kamen |
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|pub=Washington Post |
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|date=October 26, 2007}} |
|date=October 26, 2007}} |
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Revision as of 00:41, 27 October 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is under fire after the agency held a fake press conference with fake news reporters in regards to individuals effected by the California wildfires and the assistance they could receive.
The agency called a press conference on Tuesday, giving the press only 15 minutes to show up. When many did not, FEMA brought in agency officials to pose as fake reporters and ask questions. The option for reporters to call into the conference was also available, but the ones who did call-in only got to listen to the press conference, and could not ask questions. No reporters were actually present during the conference.
Officials who posed as fake reporters included the deputy director of public affairs Cindy Taylor and Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin.
White House officials said that they do not condone FEMA's actions and also state that they had no idea that the conference was taking place.
"FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error in judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California. It's not something I would have condoned. And they — I'm sure — will not do it again," said Dana Perino, the White House's press secretary in a statement.
FEMA apologizes for the mishap and says that their intentions were only to get the information to the citizens of California.
"[The purpose was] to get information out as soon as possible, and in trying to do so we made an error in judgment. Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have received. We can and must do better," said Harvey E. Johnson, the agency's vice administrator.
FEMA is currently deciding whether or not any officials should face punishment for the incident.
This is not the first time that the Bush administration has come under fire for planting reporters at press conferences. In February of 2005, White House reporter Jeff Gannon was accused of being planted to ask softball questions to President Bush.
Sources
- "FEMA Workers Play Role of Reporters" — Associated Press, October 26, 2007
- Randall Mikkelsen. "US agency apologizes for news conference on fires" — Reuters, October 26, 2007
- Al Kamen. "FEMA Meets the Press, Which Happens to Be . . . FEMA" — Washington Post, October 26, 2007
