JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

CHAPTER 13. SAR MISSION PUBLIC RELATIONS
1300 SAR Mission Public Information
1301 Cooperation With News Media
1302 Requests for Public Assistance
1310 SAR Mission Information Organization
1320 Releases
1321 Release Types
1322 Release Format
1323 News and Photograph Pool
1324 Joint Mission Releases
1325 Release of Names
1300 SAR MISSION PUBLIC INFORMATION
The information policy for SAR missions is to inform the public,
within the limits of security, of SAR system actions. Early release of
information may provide important leads, precluding unnecessary use of
SAR resources, and may forestall time-consuming requests from the news
media. Releases should be made periodically to keep the public updated
on mission progress, and a final release summarizing the entire mission
made when the case is concluded.
1301 Cooperation With News Media
Information concerning a SAR mission should be released to all
interested media simultaneously. Information may be provided to an
individual or media representative when a specific request is received.
If similar inquiries are received before the information is provided,
the following procedures should be used:
A. Each reporter who has placed a request should be informed that
another request for the same information has been received. Neither
reporter should be advised of the other's identity or the media
represented.
B. If requests for similar information have been received from not
more than three reporters, the information should be provided
simultaneously to each.
C. If more than three requests are received for similar
information, the requesting media should be advised that the information
will be provided to all requesters in a simultaneous release.
1302 Requests For Public Assistance
Asking, via the news media, for assistance from the public may
benefit the SAR case, especially in a thinly populated, extensive area.
The news release should request information, such as sightings or
unusual occurrences, and include a reporting method, such as the RCC
telephone number. The release should omit some easily verifiable