Today Is RSVP Deadline for Media Council Meeting; Count Is Already Approaching 70

The “Media and Emergency Response” theme of next Tuesday’s Honolulu Community Media Council’s meeting seems to have struck a chord with the public. Nearly 70 people already have reserved a seat at the Ala Moana Hotel luncheon, which will feature a panel discussion among representatives of the media, government and the public.

Reservations for the $20 lunch can still be made today by calling 596-2121. Registration on Tuesday will begin at 11:30, and the program will end at 1:30.

This will be the first opportunity for the public to question media and civil defense officials about their response to the communications failures that followed the October 15th earthquakes. Those failures included the temporary shutdown of 80 percent of the state’s broadcast stations, with some of them knocked off the air for more than 24 hours. Those that did continue broadcasting had difficulty accessing reliable information in the early hours of the emergency.

Scroll down to CHORE's recent posts for information on the panel’s participants, who will start the program with their brief assessments of the topic. Audience members will be invited to share their views and question the panel.