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Ridge to address first "News and Terrorism" workshop

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is scheduled to be the keynote speaker today in Chicago at the first of a planned series of workshops called "News and Terrorism: Communicating in a Crisis." The workshops to prepare journalists and government officials to communicate with each other - - and the public - - in a crisis situation are being organized by the Radio Television news Directors Foundation in association with the National Academies and the US Department of Homeland Security.

Today's first workshop at the Kellogg School of Management's Conference Center is being moderated by ABC News Special Correspondent John McWethy. Panelists will include: Ronald Sherman, Federal Coordinating Officer, FEMA Region V; Richard Jaehne, Director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute; Ron Huberman, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications of the City of Chicago; Dr. Paul Ziemer, Professor Emeritus of Health Physics at Purdue University; Camille Edwards, News Director, WMAQ-TV; Cate Cahan, Interim News Director, Chicago Public Radio; and Jim Webb, Chicago News Editor of the Associated Press. Dr. Randall Murch of the Institute for Defense Awareness will also be making a presentation.

Each workshop will feature a scenario exercise, tailored for each location, in which a small group of journalists, government officials and experts react to a simulated terrorist incident - - chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear. The day-long program also will include useful scientific information, advice on protective measures and disaster planning guidance.

Additional workshops will take place in Kansas City, MO (September 21, 2004), Portland, OR (October 14, 2004); Philadelphia, PA (October 26, 2004), Miami, FL (December 9, 2004), Austin, TX (January 2005), Atlanta, GA (March 2005), San Francisco, CA (April 2005), Denver, CO (June 2005) and Boston, MA (July 2005).

Due to limited space, the workshops are by invitation only. If you are interested in attending, contact Sue Ducat ([email protected]).