sense  relative  to  the  special  circumstances  of  the situation. To avoid conflict, you should define the rules before  the  media  is  escorted  to  the  accident  scene. Although  not  an  all-inclusive  list,  reporters  should  be asked to refrain from the following actions: l l l l l l l Seeking interviews with injured personnel or their distraught next of kin Divulging the names of victims until next of kin have been notified regardless of the fact that they obtain the information by their own resources Entering  restricted  areas  or  areas  that  contain classified  equipment Physically disturbing parts of the accident scene before  investigators  arrive Bringing heavy equipment or otherwise cumber- some paraphernalia that might interfere with rescue  operations  or  require  additional  personnel to carry it Seeking   interviews   with   individual   rescue workers  or  the  personnel  in  charge  of  the operation Wandering from the designated access area in search of additional information or photographs Explain the ground rules to the media members when  the  media  identification  badges  are  issued.  The ground rules briefing may also indicate when news briefings  are  scheduled,  how  the  CIB  is  configured,  how and when they will be brought to the accident site and other information pertinent to the situation. Admitting Reporters to the Accident Scene News media always want to send reporters and photographers to the scene of a disaster. To ensure complete and fair coverage, allow access to the scene whenever  possible.  They  cannot,  however,  be  given access  when  their  presence  would  do  the  following: l l l Interfere  with  damage  control,  rescue  or  evacua- tion  measures Jeopardize  their  own  safety Violate  security There are no regulations that prohibit reporters from visiting the scene of an accident or disaster simply because it takes place on a military installation. Unless one of the foregoing objections exists, action should be taken to permit entry to the base or installation and to allow them to visit the scene. Once  the  reporters  are  escorted  to  the  scene,  they should be given all practicable freedom to move about, take photographs and gather information, as long as they observe the previously set ground rules. If an accident occurs in the public domain (outside the confines of a military installation), the Navy has no right to prevent reporters or other civilians from going to the scene. This is true even if the area is federal property outside the fence. They may be kept away—that is, kept at a distance—only when their presence may interfere  with  operations,  jeopardize  their  own  safety  or possibly  violate  security.  If  there  is  exposed  classified information  or  equipment,  the  public  affairs  official  at the scene should explain the situation and ask reporters to stay back until the material or equipment can be covered  or  removed. The Navy has no right to prohibit the media, or any civilian, for that matter, from taking photographs of an unclassified accident scene in the public domain. There have been several unfortunate situations in the past where  cameras  and  film  were  forcibly  taken  from civilians, sometimes at gunpoint. In the public domain, only civilian police have authority. Use them rather than military police or security. Reporters and photographers must be escorted at all times at the accident or incident scene. They must be controlled  to  make  sure  they  do  not  interfere  with  the efforts  of  the  crisis  management  team  or  compromise operational  security. Photography Control at the Accident Site-On  Base As noted earlier, news photographers should be allowed maximum access to an accident scene when all classified material is either covered or removed. But when a member of the media photographs or videotapes classified material on base, either intentionally or by mistake, he must be escorted to the PAO at the scene at once. The PAO must inform the media member of Title 18 U.S. Code 793 (d), 795 and 797, which makes the photography  of  classified  material  a  violation  of  federal law. Following  the  Title  18  notification,  the  media member  should  be  asked  to  surrender  the  film  or videotape  voluntarily.  If  he  refuses,  the  on-scene  PAO must escort the individual to the CIB, Either the PAO or the senior journalist at the CIB will then contact the 2-26