[NYTr] FEMA's fake news briefing on California wildfires

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

CNN - Oct 29, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/29/fema.newser/index.html

FEMA staff asked questions at fake news conference on California
wildfires

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Those behind the Federal Emergency Management
Agency's fake news conference showed "extraordinarily poor judgment"
and will be disciplined, the head of homeland security said.

 "I think it was one of the dumbest and most inappropriate things I've
ever seen since I've been in government," Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff said.

FEMA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, called a news
conference in Washington last week on the agency's handling of the
California wildfires.

The agency said no media representatives showed up because the
conference was announced at the last minute. Instead, reporters called
in on a listen-only phone line.

The agency released a video of the conference with FEMA employees
asking less than hard-hitting questions. 

 During the briefing, someone asks Deputy Director Harvey Johnson, "Are
you happy with FEMA's response so far?"

"I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far," Johnson replied.

Johnson gave no indication at the time that staff members were asking
the questions.

 He later apologized, calling the fake briefing an "error in judgment."

"We are reviewing our press procedures and will make the changes
necessary to ensure that all of our communications are straightforward
and transparent," Johnson said in a statement.

FEMA said the questions were based on things about which reporters had
contacted the agency.

"We know we did a bad job, but we're getting back on track," FEMA press
secretary Aaron Walker said. [Gee, that's just what FEMA said about its
performance in New Orleans. -NYTr]

The White House also rebuked the news conference and said it was
unaware of the briefing beforehand.

"It is not a practice that we would employ here at the White House,"
said White House press secretary Dana Perino. "We certainly don't
condone it."  [Not since they got caught doing it themselves -NYTr]

Meanwhile, the man who led FEMA's public relations office is set to
begin work Monday as the head of public affairs for the director of
national intelligence, a spokesman for the intelligence office said.

Pat Philbin, FEMA's external affairs director, received the job offer
"well before" last week's briefing, according to spokesman Ross
Feinstein. advertisement

Feinstein declined to say whether the office -- led by National
Intelligence Director Michael McConnell -- was reconsidering the
appointment.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said Sunday that
the department had known "for weeks" Philbin was leaving. Thursday was
Philbin's last day, Knocke said.