Identifying opportunities for joint training

Major incidents are rare, so opportunities to test preparedness are also rare and usually for real.

Smaller incidents can serve to usefully exercise an emergency broadcasting plan - an opportunity to see if it works and ensure staff do not forget that it exists.

Where good relationships with emergency planners are established, the BBC will encourage staff to look for opportunities for joint-training.

'Working together in a crisis means training together.

It is important that Emergency Planners KNOW who local BBC Editors are. This establishes a good working relationship so that in an emergency both can provide the public with clear, accurate information, without confusing it with the news gathering role of the media.' (See Media Initiatives in Essex ).

Rosanna Briggs, Essex Emergency Planning Officer