Families and media weigh in on Arlington funeral coverage policy

[unhappycamper]

Families and media weigh in on Arlington funeral coverage policy
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 18, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — Before a servicemember is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, a casualty affairs officer asks the family if they want media coverage of the funeral.

"Our policy is to respect the privacy of each family funeral and to facilitate respectful media coverage, only if the family wants it," according to the script used by casualty affairs officers, which was obtained by Stars and Stripes.

The script was developed after the Army reviewed the policy for media coverage at Arlington, which was prompted by reporters’ complaints that they were kept too far away from one ceremony.

"In the event you decline any media coverage, which is absolutely your right, media will not be notified or permitted to attend," according to the script.

The script lays out other ground rules for the media as well.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61402