sponsoring  media  organization  to  request  the  voluntary surrender   of   the   film   or   videotape.   If   the   news organization refuses, the PAO has no alternative but to confiscate  the  film  or  videotape.  The  photographer should  be  given  a  receipt  for  all  items  taken.  The photographer must not be detained because of the exposed film or videotape. After  the  film  or  videotape  is  reviewed  and  all classified  portions  are  removed,  the  edited  film  or videotape  should  be  returned  to  the  photographer without delay. Any instance of confiscation of film or videotape from a news media representative must be reported by telephone to CHINFO with a follow-up message. Photography Control at the Accident Site-Off Base If the adverse news situation occurs off base, there is a limit as to when film or videotape can be confiscated. Media members must be informed of Title 18 when classified material is present and asked to refrain from photographing or videotaping it. If the media members refuse  to  observe  the  ground  rules,  request  the  help  of civilian  law  enforcement  personnel. The  senior  Navy  official  at  the  scene  must determine  whether  there  is  any  classified  information present. If none is found or if it has been removed or covered, the senior Navy official and the PAO should assist the news media in covering the scene. If it cannot be   determined   whether   classified   information   is exposed,  the  senior  official  or  PAO  should  explain  these concerns and tell them photography cannot begin until a preliminary investigation is conducted. Chapter 8 of PA Regs contains detailed information on the control of photography at accident sites both on and  off  base. Releasing the Names of Casualties Learning   Objective: Identify   the   proper   release procedures for the names of disaster casualties. The Navy realizes that the greatest shock a family can receive is to hear on the radio or read in a newspaper that  a  son,  daughter,  husband  or  wife  has  been  killed without  first  having  received  official  notification  from the Navy. Whenever possible, the Navy protects the welfare of Navy families by withholding the names of casualties from news media until official notification is made. Once  the  next  of  kin  have  been  notified,  however, the Navy attempts to expedite the release of the names to the news media. This relieves the anxiety of the families  of  Navy  men  and  women  who  were  not involved in the accident. For example, assume that there are 100 aviators attached to a naval air station. If one is killed in a local crash and the facts are released without mentioning the pilot’s name, the families of all the aviators in the area suffer until they learn the name of the victim. After his next of kin are notified, the anxiety of the other families is relieved when the name is released. To protect the well-being and welfare of families, the Navy adheres to the following policies in releasing the names of casualties to the news media. MILITARY INSTALLATION - CONUS.— Public release of names of Navy personnel killed or injured may be withheld until the next of kin can reasonably be expected to have received notification. Every effort will be made, however, to release the names concurrently with  the  announcement  of  the  accident,  or  as  soon afterwards  as  possible,  in  order  to  alleviate  undue suspense  or  anxiety  for  relatives  of  other  personnel  of the  unit  involved  in  the  accident. PUBLIC  DOMAIN  - CONUS.—  If an accident occurs  off  Navy  property  and  Navy  personnel  are involved, every effort should be made to notify the next of kin before releasing the names of those killed or injured. Reporters at the scene may be able to obtain identification  through  other  means  (police  reports  are publicly available and many coroner’s offices reveal names  readily),  but  humanitarian  considerations  dictate that the next of kin should be notified of the situation before being confronted by the news through the general media. Similar considerations hold true for notifying the next  of  kin  of  Navy  civilian  personnel  involved  in accidents. If  reporters  know  the  identities  of  military  accident victims and the next of kin have not been notified, the PAO or senior journalist should make a professional appeal to the reporters that they withhold the names until the next of kin have been notified. OUTSIDE CONUS.— In a unified command area the release of names will be directed by the unified commander. In other overseas areas, the next of kin will be notified before names or photos of casualties are released. In cases of multiple casualties, where the notification of the next of kin must be delayed because of   incomplete   information   or   lack   of   positive identification,  the  approval  of  the  Chief  of  Naval 2-27