Media and school hope to work out details

Never, ever can we be fully prepared for an emergency. But, each time we face a crisis we can do better than we have done before.

With that in mind, three news media organizations in McCook have asked to meet with McCook school administrators concerning the release of information during an emergency.

All of us were caught off guard Wednesday morning when word of a bomb threat at the public schools began spreading through the town.

Thankfully, the threat was just that ... a threat. But in these times in which we live -- with terroristic actions reaching from Columbine to the World Trade Center -- we do not take threats lightly. We take them very, very seriously.

We want to be as responsible as possible, while taking every precaution to make certain we do not needlessly spread panic.

As a step in accomplishing that goal, representatives from the McCook Daily Gazette, KICX-KBRL,K-Rock and Coyote Country and The Prairie will meet next week with Superintendent of Schools Jon Burkey and Business Manager Randall Datus about crisis notices.

Those scheduled to attend are Jay Austin and Jesse Stevens of Coyote Country and the Prairie; Dave Stout and Rich Barnett of KICX and KBRL and Gene Morris and Bruce Crosby of the Gazette.

It is the Gazette's position that steps must be taken to alert the public as promptly, honestly and responsibly as possible when an emergency develops.

Not doing so creates more problems ... mainly rumor and innuendo ... and that can end up causing more problems than not saying anything.

A great role model for sharing information in a prompt and responsible manner is Rudy Guiliani, New York's mayor at the time of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center. He uplifted his city and the nation with his openness, candor and trust in the people.

Admittedly, Wednesday's threat in McCook was a far cry from the terrible terror attacks ... but the principle is the same. We must inform the people as promptly and responsibly as humanly possible.

Hopefully, the school and local news media can work together for the best interests of students, teachers, parents and district patrons. We all want the same thing -- a safe environment for learning and living. It's just a matter of how best to communicate that fact to our listeners and readers, and we hope to make positive steps in that direction at next week's meeting.