Surcharge on all emails
----- Original Message -----
> From: Leonard
> To: Reclaim Team
> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 4:34 PM
> Subject: Tax on e-mail.
>
>
> > Hi all, I think all of us who use emails should read this and act
> > on the information below. Wendy Scurr
> >
> >
> > The Arrow - the official newsletter of the Aust Independent Movement ran
> > this story:
> > A warning to all email users - Aust. Post is trying to push through
> > Commonwealth legislation that will mean a surcharge on all emails. It
> > will be called "email delivery surcharge contribution". They intend to
> > share the proceeds with Telstra who will be the monitoring Authority.
> > The proposed charge is 1.5 cent surcharge on every email, paid for by
> > the sender. Either Telstra or Optus will bill the sender. Only the
> > sender will be charged. It has been estimated that it will cost the
> > average user $54 per year above their regular internet costs. Don't sit
> > and watch your freedoms erode away. Send an...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surcharge on all emails
----- Original Message -----
> From: Leonard
> To: Reclaim Team
> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 4:34 PM
> Subject: Tax on e-mail.
>
>
> > Hi all, I think all of us who use emails should read this and act
> > on the information below. Wendy Scurr
> >
> >
> > The Arrow - the official newsletter of the Aust Independent Movement ran
> > this story:
> > A warning to all email users - Aust. Post is trying to push through
> > Commonwealth legislation that will mean a surcharge on all emails. It
> > will be called "email delivery surcharge contribution". They intend to
> > share the proceeds with Telstra who will be the monitoring Authority.
> > The proposed charge is 1.5 cent surcharge on every email, paid for by
> > the sender. Either Telstra or Optus will bill the sender. Only the
> > sender will be charged. It has been estimated that it will cost the
> > average user $54 per year above their regular internet costs. Don't sit
> > and watch your freedoms erode away. Send an email to all users on your
> > address list and to your local member and say no to the bill AS2917.
> > One Nation's Update magazine has a lift out on the Anti-terrorism bills
> > which also involve emails. You can order an info pack by phoning toll
> > free 1800 638 820 - Senator Len Harris prepared the pack - it contains
> > copies of proposed Bills, Fact sheets to copy and distribute - contact
> > names - phone numbers and emails for MPs and Senators and more.
> >
> > Further, an email from Bill tells us proposed changes to the
> > Telecommunications Interception Act (C'th) would give government
> > agencies power to intercept and read your email, voice mail and SMS
> > messages without an 'interception warrant' - as is presently required.
> > The senate is expected to debate and possibly vote on this bill in the
> > week of 17th June. For all the info check out Electronic Frontiers
> > Australia Inc. - a nationwide non-profit assoc. concerned with online
> > civil libereties. http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/alert200205.html
> > also http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Privacy/tia_bill2002.html
> > As suggested earlier, please pass this on to as many email users as
> > possible especially those who use it for their business.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surcharge on all emails
----- Original Message -----
> From: Leonard
> To: Reclaim Team
> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 4:34 PM
> Subject: Tax on e-mail.
>
>
> > Hi all, I think all of us who use emails should read this and act
> > on the information below. Wendy Scurr
> >
> >
> > The Arrow - the official newsletter of the Aust Independent Movement ran
> > this story:
> > A warning to all email users - Aust. Post is trying to push through
> > Commonwealth legislation that will mean a surcharge on all emails. It
> > will be called "email delivery surcharge contribution". They intend to
> > share the proceeds with Telstra who will be the monitoring Authority.
> > The proposed charge is 1.5 cent surcharge on every email, paid for by
> > the sender. Either Telstra or Optus will bill the sender. Only the
> > sender will be charged. It has been estimated that it will cost the
> > average user $54 per year above their regular internet costs. Don't sit
> > and watch your freedoms erode away. Send an email to all users on your
> > address list and to your local member and say no to the bill AS2917.
> > One Nation's Update magazine has a lift out on the Anti-terrorism bills
> > which also involve emails. You can order an info pack by phoning toll
> > free 1800 638 820 - Senator Len Harris prepared the pack - it contains
> > copies of proposed Bills, Fact sheets to copy and distribute - contact
> > names - phone numbers and emails for MPs and Senators and more.
> >
> > Further, an email from Bill tells us proposed changes to the
> > Telecommunications Interception Act (C'th) would give government
> > agencies power to intercept and read your email, voice mail and SMS
> > messages without an 'interception warrant' - as is presently required.
> > The senate is expected to debate and possibly vote on this bill in the
> > week of 17th June. For all the info check out Electronic Frontiers
> > Australia Inc. - a nationwide non-profit assoc. concerned with online
> > civil libereties. http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/alert200205.html
> > also http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Privacy/tia_bill2002.html
> > As suggested earlier, please pass this on to as many email users as
> > possible especially those who use it for their business.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Primer on Talking to the Press
Below is the April 2002 issue of The Hazmat 101 News. Brought to you
free by The Hazmat 101 List.
Archives at http://www.hazmat101.com
Ask someone to join the list today. To subscribe to the list, send a
blank email to
hazmat101-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hazmat 101 News - April 30, 2002
-----------------------------------------------------------
A Primer on Talking to the Press
On February 19, 1999, an explosion ripped through the Concept
Sciences, Inc. facilities killing five people and damaging ten nearby
buildings along with some houses in the vicinity of the plant. One
person was an employee at another company adjacent to site. Aside
from a safety infraction citations found at the Allentown,
Pennsylvania company, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board found the company's process safety management
systems insufficient.
Now, imagine yourself as the chief safety officer at Concept Sciences
during the incident. You have three news reporters from local
television stations, three radio station news correspondents and two
area newspaper journalists questioning you during the investigation
and cleanup processes. What questions should you expect from them?
What do you say and not say about the incident? Should you allow them
to talk to other employees? How much do they need to know?
Talking to the press after an incident should not be left to the
amateurs. It requires preparation and an understanding of the news
media. Even the most adept Human Relations officers can be left
flustered and frustrated by the type of media coverage following an
industrial accident. It is especially disconcerting if the accident
involves fatalities and obvious negligence.
Having a press relations strategy should be an integral part of any
safety management program. The plan needs to have components that
anticipate different types of possible accident scenarios. Included
in the plan should be an in-place community outreach program that
lets the public know the company before a problem occurs and can
disseminate information to the community quickly following an
incident. In other words, attract the press and let the community
know your company in a positive manner before something negative
happens that brings your company bad publicity.
The following hints will help ease the pain of dealing with the press
if an unfortunate situation arises. Remember, even a small chemical
release or a seemingly insignificant accident or contamination can
become newsworthy if the circumstances are right. For example, the
press scrutinizes even a minor explosion as a potential terrorist
attack today since the September 11, 2001 incident in New York City.
First, and generally underestimated, is the procurement of a good
relationship with the community and the local media. Even small
companies can inexpensively sponsor civic activities, little league
and community sports, health fairs, school programs, fundraisers for
charity and other events. Make sure that a press release to the local
and regional media precedes any event. The local media like covering
small happenings that occupy a newspaper column or two minutes of
news airtime. A positive image in the community makes it harder
for "bad press" to injure the reputation of a company.
Next, know the press. Use the local newspapers and broadcasts to know
who will most likely cover or edit a story related to industrial
accidents. Remember that the reporter is a professional who is
trained to provide balanced coverage. They will be comparing your
interview to the accounts provided by emergency responders, police
and spectators. They have to assume that each person interviewed has
equal credibility. Also, never volunteer any information "off the
record" or "off the air". Reporters have a right to record any
information gathered. Most reporters will never ask you to say
anything "off the record."
Reporters are professionals and are well aware of their jobs. Handle
them with respect and mutual understanding. Show that you trust their
judgment with the line of questioning being asked. Feel free to ask
their "angle" and who else they are interviewing. Be a resource and
not an antagonist. Return follow-up calls immediately, or you will be
stated in the news as "unavailable for comment", which is usually
interpreted to mean you have something to cover up. Never ask the
reporter if you can preview or edit the story before it goes to press
or airs on radio or television. This function is up to the editor.
A very important part of the plan is a "talk to" list of personnel
who can address press issues. They should be familiar with the
company and versed in press relations. Include a representative from
all ranks of the company to avoid the look of a "stacked deck".
Safety or departmental meetings should include press briefing
sessions. The sessions should include a quick lesson on talking to
the press. Do not threaten employees into evading or becoming hostile
to the press if they are approached. Just encourage them to avoid
making conjectures about the incident. It is common and acceptable
for a reporter to hear an employee say, "You are better off talking
to my supervisor or safety officer. I do not have enough information
about the incident."
Never lie and do not cover-up too much information during an
interview. A good reporter will know when you are faking it since
they are taught to research and assess a situation. It is acceptable
to say that you do not know all the details and do not wish to
discuss certain points at that moment. In addition, do not take
offense to queries related to the testimonies of others being
interviewed. The reporter is trying to get a balanced story and is
looking for information confirmation and inconsistencies.
Be prepared to provide basic knowledge of the incident in simple
terms. Avoid industry-related jargon. Know the message you want to
convey and make sure you stay on target with the message. Remember,
the reporter's job is to interpret what you say to a non-technical
readership. Also, respond or speak in "quick quotes" or "sound
bites". In other words, give the reporter a precise answer taking no
more than 10 seconds. Even 5 seconds feels like an eternity during an
interview! Use clear and unambiguous statements. For example, in the
case of a release of radioactive materials in a laboratory:
* Do not say: "We do not know if the employees were contaminated with
the radioactive materials. This will have to be looked into by our EM
team and the NRC. We are not sure if any of the radioactivity got out
of the lab into the environment. Then again will have to be tested.
Right now we know nothing. We have had no accidents like this before.
Minor incidents do occur and other places have accidents like this.
Many times it is due to errors by the workers." This can be
interpreted as ignorance of the situation or incompetence with the
management and employees. It also rambles and leaves much for the
reporter to misinterpret.
* Do say: "We know the workers were wearing the approved protective
clothing and were aware of the appropriate precautions. It is not now
known if the radioactive materials entered their bodies or entered
the environment. Further testing will be needed." This statement
clearly explains your knowledge of the situation. The information is
in sound bite format that is simple to quote and transcribe. It also
shows that the management knows about employee safety practices
(assuming it is true).
During an interview avoid placing blame on equipment, individuals,
investigation procedures or regulated practices. These comments will
make their way into the news and set you up for possible libel or
slander litigation. In addition, it can aggravate the bad press by
leading to continuous coverage in a finger-pointing investigation. Be
especially cautious if a whistleblower is involved; you want to state
the facts and not publicly condemn the person. Argue the points and
the not the person.
Also important is having a press release ready to go immediately
after an incident. A good press release is a useful source of
information. It should include facts about the incident, quotes from
the upper management and people involved in the incident, background
about the company, a brief summary of any exemplary safety practices
and the names of contact people (including phone numbers for any
follow-up queries). Use the same discretion in a press release that
would be used in an interview.
A press release should not exceed 500 words and be printed double-
space in a twelve font. It is common to fax a release, however, some
newspapers and news stations accept files through the e-mail. At the
top of the press release include the date, a headline or topic
identifier and main contact person to field questions about the press
release. Keep the press release clear and concise with all the
important information near the top in the first one or two
paragraphs. Fill in details later in the text. Stress any actions
being taken to remedy the situation and document any procedures used
to prevent accidents. Avoid overstatements, jargon, abbreviations and
commercialism. In the write-up anticipate any questions that may be
asked by the public. The press release should immediately be followed
with a call to ensure it was received.
Last, is the follow up stage. Follow the coverage of the event and be
ready to address what was mentioned. Do not fret over details that
were left out unless it distorts the information. Also, feel free to
comment to the press about any inaccuracies in the information
gathered from your sources. Sometimes it is helpful to respond to the
comments of others interviewed in the story using a letter to the
editor. Do use not a follow-up for damage control. It becomes obvious
to the press and may never get follow-up coverage.
The best damage control is to let the public know during the initial
press coverage that something will be done to prevent similar
incidents.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2002 Hazmat 101 List. Permission to forward granted
subject to the copyright notice provisions at
http://www.hazmat101.com .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Primer on Talking to the Press
Below is the April 2002 issue of The Hazmat 101 News. Brought to you
free by The Hazmat 101 List.
Archives at http://www.hazmat101.com
Ask someone to join the list today. To subscribe to the list, send a
blank email to
hazmat101-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hazmat 101 News - April 30, 2002
-----------------------------------------------------------
A Primer on Talking to the Press
On February 19, 1999, an explosion ripped through the Concept
Sciences, Inc. facilities killing five people and damaging ten nearby
buildings along with some houses in the vicinity of the plant. One
person was an employee at another company adjacent to site. Aside
from a safety infraction citations found at the Allentown,
Pennsylvania company, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board found the company's process safety management
systems insufficient.
Now, imagine yourself as the chief safety officer at Concept Sciences
during the incident. You have three news reporters from local
television stations, three radio station news correspondents and two
area newspaper journalists questioning you during the investigation
and cleanup processes. What questions should you expect from them?
What do you say and not say about the incident? Should you allow them
to talk to other employees? How much do they need to know?
Talking to the press after an incident should not be left to the
amateurs. It requires preparation and an understanding of the news
media. Even the most adept Human Relations officers can be left
flustered and frustrated by the type of media coverage following an
industrial accident. It is especially disconcerting if the accident
involves fatalities and obvious negligence.
Having a press relations strategy should be an integral part of any
safety management program. The plan needs to have components that
anticipate different types of possible accident scenarios. Included
in the plan should be an in-place community outreach program that
lets the public know the company before a problem occurs and can
disseminate information to the community quickly following an
incident. In other words, attract the press and let the community
know your company in a positive manner before something negative
happens that brings your company bad publicity.
The following hints will help ease the pain of dealing with the press
if an unfortunate situation arises. Remember, even a small chemical
release or a seemingly insignificant accident or contamination can
become newsworthy if the circumstances are right. For example, the
press scrutinizes even a minor explosion as a potential terrorist
attack today since the September 11, 2001 incident in New York City.
First, and generally underestimated, is the procurement of a good
relationship with the community and the local media. Even small
companies can inexpensively sponsor civic activities, little league
and community sports, health fairs, school programs, fundraisers for
charity and other events. Make sure that a press release to the local
and regional media precedes any event. The local media like covering
small happenings that occupy a newspaper column or two minutes of
news airtime. A positive image in the community makes it harder
for "bad press" to injure the reputation of a company.
Next, know the press. Use the local newspapers and broadcasts to know
who will most likely cover or edit a story related to industrial
accidents. Remember that the reporter is a professional who is
trained to provide balanced coverage. They will be comparing your
interview to the accounts provided by emergency responders, police
and spectators. They have to assume that each person interviewed has
equal credibility. Also, never volunteer any information "off the
record" or "off the air". Reporters have a right to record any
information gathered. Most reporters will never ask you to say
anything "off the record."
Reporters are professionals and are well aware of their jobs. Handle
them with respect and mutual understanding. Show that you trust their
judgment with the line of questioning being asked. Feel free to ask
their "angle" and who else they are interviewing. Be a resource and
not an antagonist. Return follow-up calls immediately, or you will be
stated in the news as "unavailable for comment", which is usually
interpreted to mean you have something to cover up. Never ask the
reporter if you can preview or edit the story before it goes to press
or airs on radio or television. This function is up to the editor.
A very important part of the plan is a "talk to" list of personnel
who can address press issues. They should be familiar with the
company and versed in press relations. Include a representative from
all ranks of the company to avoid the look of a "stacked deck".
Safety or departmental meetings should include press briefing
sessions. The sessions should include a quick lesson on talking to
the press. Do not threaten employees into evading or becoming hostile
to the press if they are approached. Just encourage them to avoid
making conjectures about the incident. It is common and acceptable
for a reporter to hear an employee say, "You are better off talking
to my supervisor or safety officer. I do not have enough information
about the incident."
Never lie and do not cover-up too much information during an
interview. A good reporter will know when you are faking it since
they are taught to research and assess a situation. It is acceptable
to say that you do not know all the details and do not wish to
discuss certain points at that moment. In addition, do not take
offense to queries related to the testimonies of others being
interviewed. The reporter is trying to get a balanced story and is
looking for information confirmation and inconsistencies.
Be prepared to provide basic knowledge of the incident in simple
terms. Avoid industry-related jargon. Know the message you want to
convey and make sure you stay on target with the message. Remember,
the reporter's job is to interpret what you say to a non-technical
readership. Also, respond or speak in "quick quotes" or "sound
bites". In other words, give the reporter a precise answer taking no
more than 10 seconds. Even 5 seconds feels like an eternity during an
interview! Use clear and unambiguous statements. For example, in the
case of a release of radioactive materials in a laboratory:
* Do not say: "We do not know if the employees were contaminated with
the radioactive materials. This will have to be looked into by our EM
team and the NRC. We are not sure if any of the radioactivity got out
of the lab into the environment. Then again will have to be tested.
Right now we know nothing. We have had no accidents like this before.
Minor incidents do occur and other places have accidents like this.
Many times it is due to errors by the workers." This can be
interpreted as ignorance of the situation or incompetence with the
management and employees. It also rambles and leaves much for the
reporter to misinterpret.
* Do say: "We know the workers were wearing the approved protective
clothing and were aware of the appropriate precautions. It is not now
known if the radioactive materials entered their bodies or entered
the environment. Further testing will be needed." This statement
clearly explains your knowledge of the situation. The information is
in sound bite format that is simple to quote and transcribe. It also
shows that the management knows about employee safety practices
(assuming it is true).
During an interview avoid placing blame on equipment, individuals,
investigation procedures or regulated practices. These comments will
make their way into the news and set you up for possible libel or
slander litigation. In addition, it can aggravate the bad press by
leading to continuous coverage in a finger-pointing investigation. Be
especially cautious if a whistleblower is involved; you want to state
the facts and not publicly condemn the person. Argue the points and
the not the person.
Also important is having a press release ready to go immediately
after an incident. A good press release is a useful source of
information. It should include facts about the incident, quotes from
the upper management and people involved in the incident, background
about the company, a brief summary of any exemplary safety practices
and the names of contact people (including phone numbers for any
follow-up queries). Use the same discretion in a press release that
would be used in an interview.
A press release should not exceed 500 words and be printed double-
space in a twelve font. It is common to fax a release, however, some
newspapers and news stations accept files through the e-mail. At the
top of the press release include the date, a headline or topic
identifier and main contact person to field questions about the press
release. Keep the press release clear and concise with all the
important information near the top in the first one or two
paragraphs. Fill in details later in the text. Stress any actions
being taken to remedy the situation and document any procedures used
to prevent accidents. Avoid overstatements, jargon, abbreviations and
commercialism. In the write-up anticipate any questions that may be
asked by the public. The press release should immediately be followed
with a call to ensure it was received.
Last, is the follow up stage. Follow the coverage of the event and be
ready to address what was mentioned. Do not fret over details that
were left out unless it distorts the information. Also, feel free to
comment to the press about any inaccuracies in the information
gathered from your sources. Sometimes it is helpful to respond to the
comments of others interviewed in the story using a letter to the
editor. Do use not a follow-up for damage control. It becomes obvious
to the press and may never get follow-up coverage.
The best damage control is to let the public know during the initial
press coverage that something will be done to prevent similar
incidents.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2002 Hazmat 101 List. Permission to forward granted
subject to the copyright notice provisions at
http://www.hazmat101.com .
