California fire , fema makes fake conference

Everything in US is show and swindel.


Fema sorry for 'fake' conference
The US Federal Emergency Management Administration has apologised for having
its employees pose as reporters at a hastily arranged news conference.
No actual reporters were able to attend Fema's televised briefing on the
fires in California on Tuesday because they were only given 15 minutes'
notice.

Instead, press officers asked questions many described as soft and
gratuitous.

A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the
incident "inexcusable and offensive".

"We have made it clear that stunts such as this will not be tolerated or
repeated," Laura Keehner said, adding that the department was considering
whether or not to reprimand those responsible.

'Error of judgement'

Fema employees posed as reporters at Tuesday's "news briefing" with Deputy
Administrator Harvey Johnson because an agency was providing a live video
feed to US TV networks, according to the Washington Post.


Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the
many questions we have received
Harvey Johnson
Fema Deputy Administrator

Six questions were posed by the Fema officials and Mr Johnson even used the
typical practice of calling for a "last question".

"I'm very happy with Fema's response," Mr Johnson said in reply to one query
from an employee.

After the Washington Post published details of the briefing, which one of
its reporters listened to by phone, Mr Johnson apologised for the "error of
judgement" and promised to do better in future.

"Our intent was to provide useful information and be responsive to the many
questions we have received," he said in a statement.

"We are reviewing our press procedures and will make the changes necessary
to ensure that all of our communications are straight forward and
transparent."

Fema was widely criticised for its response to Hurricane Katrina. Its former
administrator, Michael Brown, was forced to resign despite President George
W Bush initially declaring he was doing a "heck of a job".

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7064909.stm

Published: 2007/10/26 23:45:20 GMT

© BBC MMVII


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