Very soon after a mass casualty incident, the media will arrive at the scene. Managing the media can be a challenge—especially if individual reporters are insensitive to the needs of survivors. However, when managed effectively the media can also be an asset.

After any incident, it is important to speak with one voice and to manage the release of information without compromising the investigation. To accomplish these objectives, the Incident Commander should assign a Public Information Officer (PIO) to coordinate the release of information to families, community members, and the media. In a complex incident, there may be several PIOs representing different organizations. Coordination among the PIOs is important to avoid disseminating conflicting information.