U.S. media perform many valuable public services, and one of the most important is protecting children through programs like the Amber Alert system.
To help the media better understand the nuances and sensitivities associated with these cases, the University of South Carolina is offering a free seminar to a limited number of states.
"Children in Jeopardy" is a highly interactive, three-hour workshop that uses scenarios derived from actual cases to help broadcasters better understand how they can assist law enforcement to safeguard children as well as what to avoid that potentially could make these situations worse.
The seminar is taught by a three-person team from USC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. They are knowledgeable about law enforcement policies as well as the latest communication techniques. The educators will bring the seminar to your organization at a location of your choosing at no cost, other than providing a meeting room, a projection system and an audience.
The cost of the workshop is underwritten by Fox Valley Technical College through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The sessions are an outgrowth of a series of more than 50 Amber and the Media seminars held over the last three years in Newsplex, USC’s newsroom of the future.
Several hundred members of the media have participated and can attest to the value of the training.
When a child goes missing, the public and often law enforcement turn to the media. Are you prepared to help? To make sure, we encourage you to make this workshop available to your members. To learn more and to discuss possible dates, contact Terri Moorer by e-mail at MOORERT@mailbox.sc.edu or by calling 803-348-0445.