Chertoff Plans ‘Embedded Reporter’ Program

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the Department of Homeland Security would begin an “embedded” reporter program during crises such as hurricanes. He spoke to the RTNDF Luncheon of the Radio-TV News Directors Association in Vegas.
The plan, he said, would give reporters first-hand information about the government response to the crisis and help in the flow of information to the public.
“We’re not in a battleground, so we’re not going to be censoring information,” Chertoff said, according to the RTNDA summary. “What we don’t want is interference with our physical operations … On a day-to-day basis, it often looks like the media and government are squabbling with each other. But at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team.”
As part of its followup to Hurricane Katrina, Chertoff also said his department has designated federal officials to serve as liaisons to state governors in hurricane-prone areas.