[CIMC-working] how mass media prepares for war

[donald goldhamer]

The existance of internalmemos.com is fascinating.
Here's one related to mass media, passed on by "Robert P. Kolb" <admin@73.org>
--Don
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Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 18:38:49 -0600
Subject: [chicagomayday] INTERNALMEMOS.COM - Internet's largest collection
 of corporate memos and internal communication

http://www.internalmemos.com/memos/memodetails.php?memo_id=1329

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Clearchannel
Preparing for war

WAR PLANS

KFBK and KSTE NEWS

Make certain that we are monitoring CNN and ABC's Sat Que. Sat Que must be
turned up loud. We can not just rely on someone occasionally checking the
wires.  Do NOT turn down the volume on ABC Sat Que. Ross, please consider
setting the volume high and removing the volume knob, otherwise someone
will turn it down and you'll miss an important bulletin.

Board ops: The second you get a notification that war has begun make sure
you are prepared to hit news bulletin sounder and get the information on
IMMEDIATELY.  As soon as it is offered, cut to network updates or long-form
coverage immediately.  Then call and page Ken and Cristi.

If War breaks out after 10AM M-F please make sure that we call Joe and Jack
to come in and take KSTE into long-form as well.

Our Coverage will be called America's War with Iraq In writing copy please
call our coverage, 'LIVE In-Depth Team Coverage of America's War with
Iraq.'

After a major terror attack or after the war begins take all presidential
addresses and public appearances.

Branding liners have been produced and are in the system. Michael please
issue a memo making it clear where board ops will find this important
imaging. Mike also make certain that our cross promos on the FMs all
address Live in-depth team coverage of the War with Iraq on Newstalk 1530
KFBK

Editors, producers get to work on a 'war list' immediately.  Make sure it
includes local experts, sources, military types, other CC newsrooms around
the country, network contacts etc. Cristi please coordinate this and make
certain it is posted everywhere.

As soon as something happens, notify everyone!  Cristi will make sure a
complete staff phone list is posted in the newsroom, the studios. Take one
home; leave one in your car. You may be asked to help with staff
notification.

As it becomes evident something is approaching, the entire news staff will
be placed on standby, even when you're not working. In your off hours
listen to KFBK, KGO, and KCBS, watch CNN, MSNBC. Not only will this help
keep you posted on war and possible attacks you will find some terrific
story ideas. News immersion. Watch, listen, read!

Make sure pagers, tape decks, mini discs all have fresh batteries.  Carry
spare batteries.  Reporters should carry cell phones at all times.
Remember¡K.we ARE or about to be at WAR.

CNN-TV audio feed will undoublty be our first on air coverage. Make certain
that you know how to bring CNN up on the boards of both KFBK and KSTE. They
were first by a mile in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War and again on
September 11th.  Despite all the news sources out there they are the best
in spot situations and could be first again.

When the war begins take What CNN and ABC offer.  Go to long form as soon
as they offer it.  Turn it up and let it go.

While I fully expect to be executive producing our coverage you may find
yourself in charge of this breaker for some time prior to Cristi or I
getting to the station. Anchors only, unless you think you can do a better
job by jumping in and out of network long-form with local windows, stay
with it.  You can still start branding our coverage immediately with the
bumpers already standing by in the system. Just force them over the
network.  Network coverage sounds good and will contain the information the
listener most wants to hear.  And the network has national resources that
simply cannot be duplicated on a local level.  Getting to network coverage
quickly and staying with it for a time also allows our newsroom to mobilize
forces to gather angles pertaining to our region.

While the network is on make sure our team of reporters, editors, anchors
and talk hosts are working local angles, local people involved, local
experts for commentary, federal buildings on alert, watch local gas prices
etc.

Then when appropriate we'll find ways to work local into the national
programming.  ABC has a tight long-form wheel but there are optional
cutaways at :19:55, :30:25, :49:50 and :58:50 around status reports.

Remember, don't do local just to do local.  This is an
international/national story and the nets do a great job. You will know
when it is right and you have the right stories to use.  If you are going
to make a mistake, do too much network.  Especially early.  THIS IS WAR.
We will only get hurt by not giving people enough information at a time
like this not by giving them too much.

If long form coverage is not warranted by the situation, then carry ABC
status.  Anchor those in studio plus other locally produced coverage.
Start with four per hour minimum.  Always err on the side of overkill.
Actually, there is no such thing as overkill in a situation like this.
Ideally, long form coverage is the way to go using a combination of local
anchors/hosts and network updates and cutaways.

The initial hours of coverage are critical.  People who have never listened
to our stations will be tuning in out of curiosity, desperation, panic and
a hunger for information.  RIGHT NOW, convert them to P-1's, or at least
make them a future cumer.  We must make sure we meet their expectations,
otherwise they're gone forever and they ain't coming back.

Don't forget KGBY, KHYL and KSTE.  They'll need help and information as
well.  They will help with KFBK cross-promotion also.

Monitor TV networks and local stations for contacts and leads.  If they
have good ideas, turn them around and quickly make them our own.

Don't forget, when appropriate use language like 'a Newstalk 1530 KFBK
exclusive' 'a story you are only hearing on KFBK' or 'a story you heard
first on KFBK'.  Make sure we own being FIRST.

Ross, if possible, can we have a short wave radio wired up in the newsroom
so that we can capture audio.  Obtain a copy of the latest edition of
Monitoring Times magazine, which lists all of the International English
language broadcast stations.  If we don't have one in the family I would
recommend pricing the Sony ICF-2010 (or its equivalent) for a good,
moderately priced, portable short-wave radio with an antenna on the roof.

Don't forget about the time difference between here and the Middle
East/Iraq.  They are eight to ten hours AHEAD of Eastern Standard Time.  In
other words, when it's 12 Noon on the West Coast, its 11pm in Baghdad.

Make sure a list of all Satellite channel assignments along with
instructions on how to access them is posted in pit and both control
rooms. Plus all network news numbers need to be all over your news and
control rooms.

Make sure everyone is accessing WireReady checking the Clear Channel Wire
Service for updates, information, ideas, news copy, etc.

ALWAYS roll on every on air interview, including during the network
coverage.  You never know when they will have something for other dayparts
and for your newscasts. Remember the War Room with Mark Williams needs a
ton of stuff.

Fold audio back into newscasts, talk shows, promos and sweepers

Talk shows, find the right time to work local callers into the coverage.
People will be angry, frightened¡Kthe emotion of America IS part of the
story.  Use it!

INTERVIEW AND NEWS POSSIBILITIES:

Local and State Universities for a published guide of
   'Spokespersons and Experts.'
   Local Congressmen (know key committees involved)
   Local Senators (same)
   Terrorism experts
   Chemical/Biological warfare experts
   High ranking local military or ex-military officials
   Military History professors
   Former G-Men
   Local Mosque spokesperson
   Political Science professor
   Government & Politics professor
   International affairs experts and/or professor
   Hazardous materials expert / Local Haz-Mat Director
   Middle Eastern Studies professor
   ROTC Instructor
   Veterans of Desert Storm or the recent Afghanistan Conflict
   Local families with loved ones currently in the Middle East
   Local families of business types working in the Middle East
   Local Companies with business ties to the Middle East (oil etc.)
   Arab League Rep
   Jewish Community Center Rep
   Local airports and airlines
   Military recruiting offices
   Hotels ¡V stranded travelers?
   National Guard/State Police (Are they on alert?)
   Local emergency management officials or agencies
   What about public access to Federal and State buildings?
   Local schools ¡V business as usual?
   Psychologists for effects on children
   Is there a foreign consulate nearby (Israel has one in Houston)

Keep focused on the wires whatever for story angles occurring in CC markets
If a local TV station sends someone to the area find a way to use them,
     radio exclusive

Anti-war types

Dispatch reporters to area military bases.  Talk to anyone you can.  Most
officers can't and won't speak directly about any ongoing actions in the
Middle East.  However, they will usually speak in hypothetically and quote
standard procedure, etc.  Look for protestors outside the bases as well.

PROGRAMMING

An 'A' team(s) will be identified and on hot standby at all times.  I'll
try to schedule talent intelligently and strategically.  Since initial
reports and coverages will probably be network, we'll save morning drive
team for morning drive.

Start booking guests immediately¡K.regardless of the time.  DO NOT worry
about waking up people¡K.there's a war going on!  Plus we can stash the
tape for later use if these folks can't be on call for later.  Even guests
of national stature won't hang up on you during a time like this.  You
can't afford not to do it.  It is in these first few minutes or hours we'll
either win or lose the image.

Exploit our web site.  Provide updates, informal flash polling, email
reaction.  Put links on your site to good links.  If you have web questions
contact Andy Friedman.  He is the Senior Content Manager for News/Talk with
Clear Channel Interactive.  He can be reached at [phone removed] or at
[email removed].  Make your coverage a truly interactive experience for the
listeners.  The Internet is also an obvious valuable resource for
information, guests to interview, weather in Iraq, etc.

Talk shows are also a very important piece to the coverage puzzle.  After
the long form coverage dies down talk shows should live it and breathe it
24 hours a day.  YOU CANNOT OVERKILL this story.  It's like disc jockeys
playing records.  When the jock gets tired of it, the public is just
getting warmed up.  Stay focused and on Topic 'A'.  Fresh angles,
relentless promoting and pre-promoting.  Talk shows are very important for
the public just to vent at first.

Don't get hung up on being 'local.'  Just be the BEST.  Doesn't matter
where the talk show originates from, as long as it is the best available.
Remember after 9-11 Clear Channel provided some around the clock talk
programming focused on the news for stations without local hosts.  These
were great programs and better than taped syndicate fare.  Especially in a
time of War.  I am sure our company will look to do this again.  Keep your
eye on your e-mail for updates and I will keep you posted on what I find
out. But let's plan on not running Best ofs during the first few days of
the conflict.

Remember to ask me if regular programming should continue to run on
weekends and if we have specialty shows that can't or won't talk about the
war¡K.we will probably blow them off.  Even Dr. Laura.  Remember, no
fishing shows, gardening shows. We are AT WAR.

In the opening minutes of coverage blow off commercials.  Contact me
immediately.

Be sure to discrep all commercials that are missed. We'll have a plan for
making spots good.

If there is imminent danger, under the FCC rules, AM stations may remain at
full power through the night as long as they are in a non-commercial mode.
This would be under the most extreme circumstances.  For instance, the New
York AM's did this the first couple of nights after the World Trade Center
bombing. Ross, keep this in mind for KSTE.

Remember, normal weather, traffic, news beds may not be appropriate in wall
to wall coverage. Please ask before proceeding on auto-pilot

As Rivercats season approaches we need to make sure we are aware of our
contractual obligations with regard to interruptions for news of this
magnitude.

We'll be proactive.  Let's set a meeting with Rivercats now and make them
aware of War or Terror attack plans? We MUST find a way interrupt for
bulletins.

Everyone should know studio ISDN numbers. Everyone should be fully trained
on ISDN. Make sure every shift has someone trained on how to use the ISDN
any time day or night.  This will come in handy for several reasons.

We may be feeding content to our new station in San Francisco Talk 910
KNEW. Their ISDN numbers will be on phone list. Please note they are
included on notification list.

Notification list:

Ken Kohl
916 939-1847 home
916 425-6650 cell
877 223-4095 or
  system in pit this is a text pager provide full message please.

Cristi Landes
916 451-2161 Home
916 425-6650 Cell
877 705-6360 Pager

Don Alias
1-866-200-4021 Pager
564-5907-Home
710-0206-Cell

Brad Waldo
2149 Office
641-0618
616-0283

Clark Reid
415 706-5965 cell

Len Konecny
510.504.8272 cell
925.709.3337 home

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