DC Journalists Have Escape Plans If Nation’s Capital Is Attacked

Washingtonian Magazine ^ | 2.14.03 | HARRY JAFFE

[mhking]

DC Journalists Have Escape Plans If Nation’s Capital Is Attacked

The Washington Post is moving its data center to Tysons Corner in Virginia.

U.S. News has plans to send reporters and editors to hotels in Frederick, Maryland.

The BBC would evacuate its staff to waiting boats on the Potomac River to avoid land-based escape routes that are likely to be jammed.

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue about what to do.

As the threat of a terrorist attack on Washington occupies the front pages and airwaves, news organizations are trying to figure out how to keep going in a capital city where the air or water might be toxic.

“We’re putting our plan together now,” says U.S. News executive editor Brian Kelly. “We have people here and in New York. If [terrorists] hit both places, we’ll be in Frederick.”

The Washington Post newsroom had been blasé about the prospect of a terrorist attack, according to staffers working on contingency plans, but editors now seem to be in a panic to prepare for a scenario blasted across the paper’s front page all week.

“They’re really taking it seriously,” says a member of the communications team.

The Post has been doing some planning for worst-case scenarios for months. A move of its data center to Tysons Corner is scheduled to be done in June. But the pace picked up Thursday in meetings with top editors such as managing editor Steve Coll. Post Company chair Don Graham also has been involved in daily meetings.

“We have a pretty well-developed plan to keep publishing the newspaper,” Coll says.

According to internal communications, the Post is planning for three levels of trouble:

l. A chemical or biological attack, such as anthrax, in the newsroom.
2. The downtown DC headquarters is uninhabitable but still standing.
3. The Post building is destroyed.

”We are working on plans to keep publishing at each level,” says one editor. “How do we recreate ourselves?”

If the newsroom is out of commission, the foreign desk reorganizes in the Alexandria bureau. The national desk would reorganize in Silver Spring, north of DC in suburban Maryland. Coll calls it “a dispersal strategy.”

The paper is also stocking up on basic survival supplies, like water. “We are preparing for lockdown,” one staff member said.

USA Today is already about 14 miles west of the White House in Tysons Corner, but it has begun to plan for second and third publishing sites.

“We will work out of these offices here as long as possible,” says director of communications Steven Anderson, “but we have offices in Silver Spring where we could publish if necessary.”

USA Today also is setting up a potential publishing site farther away in Winchester, Virginia, 75 miles west of Washington. It already has moved some computers to Shenandoah University there.

The BBC’s plan to evacuate its Washington staff by boat was explained to Post executives. BBC news editor Patrick Howse referred calls about the use of boats to corporate headquarters.

At U.S. News, editors and managers were doing what they could to make sure their building and its ventilation systems were secure.

“We’re trying to reassure people,” says Brian Kelly. “There’s not much more you can do.”

—HARRY JAFFE
hjaffe@washingtonian.com

[AdamSelene235]

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue about what to do.

Why does this not surprise me?

[SevenofNine]

HA HA What about Wash Times I want to know what going happen to that Newspaper
Who care about Wash Post

Give me Wash Times anytime BABY

WAR BILL GERTZ

[Billthedrill]

Think of it as a latter-day Titanic - "to heck with the women and children, save the politicians and the journalists first!" And rightfully so, I suppose - somebody's got to be left to screw up the country.

[Living Free in NH]

What the hell are all these libs worried about? According to them, there's peace & harmony throughout this village we call Earth; we have nothing to worry about. At least that's what they're telling us...

[Letitring]

It doesn't surprise me either, since the Washington Times doesn't seem to have the CLINTON input the Post enjoys.

[CyberAnt]

"The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue about what to do"

You beat me to it - I thought this statement was so telling: the NY Times is CLUELESS as usual!!

[OldFriend]

Cowards, acting just like their hollyweirdo cohorts did after 9/11.

[Lady Jag]

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue

It's about time they admitted it!

[Terridan]

My thoughts exactly!!! What are they afraid of when it is all baloney, what the US imperialists are spewing about war???? All you have to do is watch Pelosi's face to know they are scared, big time, and now lashing out at the administration, which they helped collar!

[Mo1]

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue about what to do.

FOFL ... Why am I Not Suprised

[Rebelbase]

I like the BBC's ingenuity. Those Brits' are a meticulous lot.

[Coop]

The BBC would evacuate its staff to waiting boats on the Potomac River to avoid land-based escape routes that are likely to be jammed.

Very smart. Gotta hand it to the Brits. Kind of a small-scale Dunkirk.

[Mo1]

FYI

[TLBSHOW]

new York times is clueless! LOL

[Grampa Dave]

What are they worried about?

Ever since GW made his speech in the UN last September, these left wing mediot maggots have worked 24/7 to tell America and the World that their cash cow, Soddomite the Insane has no WMDS. They feel that President Bush is the dangerous one, and that their cash cow, Uncle Soddomite is the guy wanting peace and harmony.

[Madame Dufarge]

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue about what to do.

They don't need to do worry.

Cockroaches can survive anything.

[adx]

DC Journalists Have Escape Plans If Nation’s Capital Is Attacked

Of course, for you serfs in the DC area, well, if you don't get out, that's tuff ruck for you! (/caste system)

[Libloather]

DC Journalists Have Escape Plans

If they're the target, will moving really help?

[2timothy3.16]

The New York Times Washington bureau says it hasn’t a clue...

This is the first thing the ny slimes has said that's true in over a three decades!