Media Communications Following a Mass Fatality 

Incident: Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority

2021-N-0007 Media Communications 

Following a Mass Fatality Incident: 

Best Practice Recommendations for 

the Medicolegal Authority

Disaster Victim Identification Task Group

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee

Medicine Scientific Area Committee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
Media Communications Following a Mass Fatality Incident:

Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority

 2

OSAC Proposed Standard

2021-N-0007 Media Communications 

Following a Mass Fatality Incident: 

Best Practice Recommendations for 

the Medicolegal Authority

Prepared by 

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee

Medicine SAC

Version: 2.0

August 2021

Disclaimer:

This OSAC Proposed Standard was written by the Medicolegal Death Investigation 

Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science 

following a process that includes an open comment period. This Proposed Standard will be 

submitted to a standards developing organization and is subject to change. 

There may be references in an OSAC Proposed Standard to other publications under 

development by OSAC. The information in the Proposed Standard, and underlying concepts and 

methodologies, may be used by the forensic-science community before the completion of such 

companion publications.

Any identification of commercial equipment, instruments, or materials in the Proposed Standard 

is not a recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Government and does not imply that the 

equipment, instruments, or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
Media Communications Following a Mass Fatality 

Incident: Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority

Media Communications Following a Mass Fatality Incident: 

Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority

Foreword

Media acts as a watchdog to protect public interest and create public awareness. The dramatic nature of 

mass fatality incidents captivates the public interest and is intertwined with the overwhelming desire for 

medicolegal authorities to accomplish victim accounting and identification in an efficient, transparent 

manner. Understanding the role of the media in a mass fatality incident, the medicolegal authority can 

leverage them to proactively communicate information and public messaging regarding fatality 

management operations. Utilizing a variety of communications methods, the medicolegal authority can 

create a comprehensive, efficient strategy for information sharing that respects the families and improves 

public awareness. 

1.0 Scope

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the various aspects of communication and data 

sharing with media in mass fatality incidents. The medicolegal authority should consider their role in the 

collection, sequestering, and dissemination of information to the survivor families and media. The 

medicolegal authority should establish relationships with local media to manage expectations and create a 

foundational basis for communications in a mass fatality incident. 

2.0 Normative References

There are no normative references. Informative references are included at the end of this document.

3.0 Terms and Definitions

Joint Information Center (JIC): A location where personnel with public information responsibilities 

coordinate critical emergency information functions, crisis communications, and public affairs functions. 

Public Information Officer: A spokesperson or communications coordinator designated by the medicolegal 

authority to disseminate information publicly on behalf of the Medicolegal Authority.

Public Information: Information that may be classified public under state law or deemed newsworthy 

information that is not legally protected.

Media Representative: Individuals who are employed or act on behalf of electronic or print media including 

radio, television, internet and newspaper.

Victim Information Center (VIC): The VIC is the component of the Family Assistance Center (FAC). The 

VIC is a controlled area within the FAC where the acquisition of antemortem data occurs to enable the 

identification of victims of a mass fatality incident (MFI). Establishment of the VIC is the responsibility of 

the local medicolegal authority.

Family Assistance Center (FAC): An FAC facilitates the exchange of timely and accurate information with 

family and friends of injured, missing, or deceased disaster victims, the investigative authorities, including 

the Medicolegal Authority and service providers (e.g. American Red Cross). The Medicolegal Authority 

role at the FAC includes gathering antemortem data (via the Victim Information Center) and notifying the 

legal representative authorized to direct disposition regarding the deceased. Non-medicolegal services 

provided at the FAC may include grief counseling, childcare, religious support, facilitation of family needs, 
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antemortem data collection, and notification of death to the legal representative authorized to direct 

disposition. FACs can be physically or virtually established sites.

Medicolegal Authority: The Medical Examiner, Coroner, or other office responsible for medicolegal death 

investigation in a given jurisdiction.

Mass Fatality Incident (MFI): Any incident which produces fatalities of a sufficient number or complexity 

that special operations and organizations are required.

Incident Command System (ICS): A management system designed to enable effective and efficient domestic 

incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and 

communications operating within a common organizational structure.

4.0 Recommendations 

4.1 Designating a Public Information Officer

In a mass fatality incident, the responsibilities of the medicolegal authority exponentially increase, and 

implementation of an incident command structure is recommended. Within that structure, the role of the 

public information officer (PIO) should be designated. This person should report directly to the fatality 

management incident commander (e.g. medicolegal authority). The PIO should have appropriate 

communications skills or expertise. The PIO may be selected from within the agency or from another 

agency within the larger organization (county, state). Irrespective of their agency affiliation, this individual 

should have a pre-existing relationship with the medicolegal authority and familiarity with both daily and 

mass fatality management operations. In some jurisdictions, data on decedents or death investigations is 

protected by specific statutes or laws, and the PIO should have knowledge of the data classifications (public, 

confidential, private), protections and authority to release information. 

The PIO should be responsible for receiving media requests for information, dispelling rumors, verifying 

the accuracy of data, and disseminating or restricting information to the media using platforms agreed to 

by the medicolegal authority. 

The PIO may rely on a communications or public relations staff to assist with various aspects of collecting, 

monitoring and disseminating of information. The PIO should rely on expertise from various subject matter 

experts to provide messaging regarding their area of expertise. Whenever possible, the medicolegal 

authority should utilize the same PIO throughout the operation to promote trust and consistency of 

messaging. 

4.1.1. Medicolegal Authority as the Public Information Officer

In some instances, the medicolegal authority may act as the PIO. This is particularly true in jurisdictions 

with limited personnel, or whenever the medicolegal authority makes the decision to act as the public 

spokesperson. It is not required that the medicolegal authority act as the PIO. The medicolegal authority 

should make the decision based on their own comfort level with public speaking, understanding of fatality 

management concepts, and responsibility to other operational activities. The desire for personal publicity 

should not be a consideration when making this decision.

4.2 Establishing Relationships with Media

Medicolegal authorities routinely interact with the media on cases that garner public interest (e.g. 

homicides, motor vehicle accidents) as part of routine daily operations. These interactions may occur via 

multiple platforms, such as regular press releases with pre-identified releasable information or direct 
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communication with media outlets and journalists. It is important for medicolegal authorities to consider 

pre-incident opportunities to establish proactive relationships with media personnel and outlets. These 

relationships may be fostered through facility tours, public interest stories, public outreach and 

educational opportunities. It is essential to maintain these relationships professionally and ethically. 

Caution must be taken to avoid relationships that create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

During pre-incident operations, PIO’s can serve as a liaison between the medicolegal authority and media 

to proactively address operational issues and create opportunities to foster positive relations. The media 

should be encouraged to attend training and exercises to gain baseline understanding of fatality management 

operations and obtain stock imagery and video footage of facilities (if permitted). 

4.3 Medicolegal Authority Coordination with the Joint Information Center 

The PIO should coordinate with the affected jurisdiction’s Joint Information Center (JIC), if established. 

All disseminated information should be directed from the JIC, including releases and briefings. If a JIC is 

not established, the medicolegal authority should coordinate release of information with other involved 

agencies prior to public dissemination. Inconsistent or conflicting messaging coming from multiple 

agencies will result in confusion and erode public trust, which will then prove very difficult to rebuild. 

4.4 Legal Aspects of Privacy Practices

Privacy laws vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. During mass fatality operations personnel 

from local, regional, national and international media outlets may inquire about fatality management 

operations and victim information. 

The PIO should not only be aware of, but prepared to educate the media on, the legal aspects of privacy 

within their jurisdiction. A balance exists between the public’s right to know and the family’s right to 

privacy as well as between transparency of operations and the risk of premature disclosure of information. 

Private or confidential victim information should not be disclosed without proper legal authorizations or 

consent.

The medicolegal authority should be aware that information disseminated to or received from partnering 

agencies may be subject to restrictions or public sharing requirements. Whenever information is protected 

or classified confidential, it should be identified as such to prevent unintentional disclosure. 

4.5 Communication Platforms

Communication with the media can occur in a variety of formats, each serving a specific intended purpose. 

PIO’s should work with the medicolegal authority and public officials to develop a public information 

dissemination strategy to include communicating the mission and purpose of the medicolegal authority in 

fatality management operations. The strategy should utilize multiple communications platforms to reach 

the intended audience.

Communications about medicolegal operations should include operational achievements, goals and current 

victim accounting information. Operational objectives should be discussed in general terms without 

specificity to responders or victims. 

4.5.1 Press Releases Press releases are a written form of communication typically containing limited 

information available for immediate release to the public. They are intended to inform the media with 

specific information regarding an incident. In a mass fatality incident, they can be used to provide contact 
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information for the PIO, directions for obtaining information in the future, or to convey a specific 

message to the public. 

Press releases can be useful in the early stages of a mass fatality incident before response agencies have 

coordinated communications efforts. These should: 1) contain only factual information, 2) refrain from 

speculation, and 3) offer information relevant only to the medicolegal authority’s responsibilities. It is 

recommended that medicolegal authority use standardized templates and pre-identified list of media outlets 

for distribution for this type of communication. 

4.5.2 Press Conferences

Press conferences are conducted for the purpose of disseminating information to the media and public 

through the PIO. Whenever possible, talking points or statements should be prepared in advance and 

relevant statistics vetted prior to dissemination. 

To foster a positive and trusting relationship with families, information disseminated during a press 

conference should already have been communicated and explained to victim families. Family objections 

and concerns should be recognized and taken into consideration when developing talking points. Whenever 

possible, reasons should be provided to family members regarding public disclosure of sensitive or difficult 

information. 

The PIO should be prepared to address questions from the media regarding the agency’s response to the 

mass fatality incident (e.g. recovery efforts, fatality counts, decedent identification, personal effects). The 

PIO should answer questions in a concise manner without speculating or divulging protected information, 

or information not in the direct purview of the medicolegal authority. Care should be taken when using 

concepts or terms that could be misinterpreted (e.g. acronyms, scientific terminology). For instance, the 

term “bodies” might suggest the remains are intact, where some of the human remains are fragments only. 

No information regarding specific victims should be released or commented on prior to identification and 

notification of the legal representative authorized to direct disposition. If the answer to a question is not 

immediately known or the data unavailable, it is recommended the PIO state that they do not have the 

answer but will attempt to obtain the information.

Typically, press conferences are coordinated with the Joint Information Center, if established, or the 

primary response agencies involved and structured to permit agency specific information sharing. 

4.5.3 Media Interviews

Interviews are designed to elicit specific responses to targeted questions, and the interviewee has little to 

no control over the context in which those responses will be disseminated. The communication strategy 

should be directed at conveying the agency mission and objectives to a wide audience. Before granting an 

interview with a specific media outlet, the medicolegal authority should consider perceptions of favoritism 

and their ability to grant similar requests from other media outlets. Interviews by fatality management 

personnel are generally discouraged without prior coordination with the PIO. 

A separate media interview may be used to correct misinformation or misrepresentation of the medicolegal 

authorities’ operational response. It should not be used as a platform to discuss specific victims or disparage 

other response agencies. 

Following the conclusion of mass fatality incident, requests for media interviews may be honored to provide 

historical or documentary information relevant to the medicolegal response. Careful consideration should 

be taken to understand the interviewer’s intended purpose before conducting the interview.
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4.5.4 Social Media

Social media is a rapid and powerful platform to directly engage with the public following a mass fatality 

incident. Medicolegal authorities should understand the limitations of the various social media platforms. 

When using social media, consider the public presence of the online profile being used to disseminate 

information. Refrain from using personal profiles, or posting information that is graphic, derogatory or 

perceived as insensitive. Profile photos should be informative and tasteful, preferably identifying the agency 

(e.g. agency logo). Any photographs should be devoid of identifying information and the background 

scrutinized for inappropriate content. 

Consider who will be responsible for posting, monitoring and responding to online content; the PIO, the 

medicolegal authority, or a designee. If it is anyone other than the PIO, the content should be reviewed and 

approved by the medicolegal authority prior to posting. 

Online content offers the public the unique ability to view, comment and share the information. Before 

posting on social media sites, consider the intended audience, alternative methods to reach that audience 

and a plan to handle public comments or responses to the information posted.

4.6 Visual Aides and Fact Sheets

PIO’s should consider the use of agency specific logos and branding on all media communications to source 

the information being disseminated to the medicolegal authority. This branding will provide authenticity to 

the information and establish the medicolegal authority as the subject matter expert.

Fact sheets should be developed during pre-incident planning to address frequently asked questions, or 

explain complex information in a thoughtful, easy to understand manner. Fact sheets provide a reference 

for media representatives who may not be familiar with the relevant laws, local customs, or procedures 

governing operations of the medicolegal authority. Collating this information into a fact sheet ensures a 

consistent response to basic procedural inquires.

4.7 Timing of Communications

The medicolegal authority should take a proactive approach rather than a reactive one to engage with the 

media following a mass fatality incident. Inform the media and public of your awareness and response to 

an incident and provide specific PIO contact information.

In the immediate aftermath of an MFI the medicolegal authority generally will not have established contact 

with the family members, yet there is still a responsibility to publicly disseminate information. Once the 

medicolegal authority has established contact with the families, the priority shifts to providing the families 

information in advance of the media. 

As the incident progresses and coordination of the response agencies occurs, communications should be 

regular and reoccurring with families and media. Establishment of specific times when press conferences 

will normally occur through the JIC. If a JIC is not established, the medicolegal authority should 

coordinate the timing of information release with other involved agencies prior to public dissemination. 

Regularly scheduled press conferences will be suspended when additional information becomes less 

dynamic and media interest diminishes. The PIO should provide media with directions to continue to 

receive further updates. The medicolegal authority may elect to hold additional conferences when 

specific information needs to be conveyed broadly. 

4.8 Fatality Management Operations and the Media
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It should be understood and expected that the media will respond to the incident scene, morgue facility and 

FAC/VIC when mass fatality incident occurs and may occupy public spaces. The medicolegal authority 

should have awareness of where the media is legally permitted to gather around operational areas (e.g. 

public sidewalks, land, etc.) and take precautions as needed to mitigate any real or perceived insensitivities. 

Fatality management personnel should not speak to any media unless specifically permitted by the PIO. If 

information is requested by media, personnel should instead provide direction for obtaining information 

such as the agency website or PIO contact.

4.8.1 Incident Scene

Media should not be allowed inside the site perimeter while operations are being conducted. The JIC should 

establish a logical location to stage the media that is respectful to the victims and families involved in the 

incident. 

4.8.2 Family Assistance Center

The FAC should be a safe place for families to gather. Therefore, media should not be allowed inside the 

FAC. Family members may wish to communicate with the media, but this should not occur in the FAC. 

4.8.3 Morgue 

Media should not be allowed inside the morgue during MFI operations. A secure perimeter should be 

established around the morgue facility, preferably of sufficient distance, opacity and height to discourage 

unauthorized photography and videography of morgue operations.

4.9 Elected Officials and Dignitaries

Elected officials and dignitaries will often be sought out by the media to proffer statements in response to 

a mass fatality incident. 

The medicolegal authority should make efforts to educate elected officials within their jurisdiction on the 

disaster victim identification process and their MFI response plans. This education should focus on 

establishing realistic expectations for victim recovery and identification operations, and associated 

timelines and challenges. Whenever possible, this education should occur during pre-incident planning. 

Elected officials and dignitaries should be encouraged to attend mass fatality trainings and exercises to gain 

awareness of the situations encountered and processes employed by the medicolegal authority. 

During a mass fatality incident, the PIO and the JIC should remain in regular communication with elected 

officials to ensure they have the necessary situational awareness regarding the fatality management 

response, and accurate fatality accounting data. This information is critical to ensure a consistent and 

accurate message is conveyed to the media.

4.10 Media as a Resource

The media performs an essential function in informing the public of the mission and objective of the 

medicolegal authority during a fatality management response. 

The media should be leveraged as a resource to solicit information from the public through proactive 

engagement. Medicolegal authorities may utilize the media to disseminate requests for information and 

offers for services (e.g. FAC/VIC location). For example, pushing out a request for family and friends to 

contact the centralized call center to report their loved one as possibly involved in the incident.

4.11 Victim Accounting
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The number of victims of a MFI is a point of focus for the public and the media. It is common for the media 

to report differing numbers of fatalities resulting in confusion. Contradictory fatality counts result from 

media speculation and variable victim accounting procedures. The medicolegal authority should assert its 

responsibility to report the confirmed number of fatalities. Those numbers should be conveyed to the PIO 

for dissemination within the JIC.

4.12 Incident Naming 

Incidents are commonly named, or receive a tagline associated with the location and/or type of incident. 

The medicolegal authority should consider the negative connotation and long term impacts to community 

and responders when crafting statements using those tag lines. It is recommended that the medicolegal 

authority refrain from sensationalizing the event by repeating media taglines in communications. 

4.13. Monitoring of Media Coverage

The PIO and medicolegal authority should monitor local and national news outlets for stories about fatality 

management operations. This can be delegated to agency public relations staff and automated to some 

degree by signing up for internet notifications using keywords.

Monitoring of information reported by the media informs the PIO and medicolegal authority of 

misinformation that should be corrected, rumors to be dispelled and impact of their own communications 

on public awareness. With an understanding of what has been reported, the PIO can craft a statement to 

convey the desired message.

4.14. Pitfalls of Media Communications

The disparate nature of medicolegal jurisdictions, laws and local customs further complicates the ability of 

the media to understand the nuanced complexities of disaster victim identification. Failure of the 

medicolegal authority to consider this baseline of understanding will inhibit media relations. 

Other perils and pitfalls exist that the medicolegal authority should be aware of when considering their 

media communications plan include: 

● Conflicting or legally protected information being released to the public

● Failure to identify the medicolegal authority as the responsible authority for reporting fatality 

numbers

● Failure to inform families of information prior to public release

● Failure to maintain a consistent, regular schedule for press conferences

● Speculation or promises by the medicolegal authority

● Self-promotion as a consideration when designating a PIO

● Individuals who self-appoint as a spokesperson, speak anonymously or off the record

● Social media should be used with careful attention to the message, visuals and audience
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Annex A 

(informative)

Foundational Principles

1. The medicolegal authority should engage with the media in a thoughtful and deliberate manner 

2. The medicolegal authority should provide information to family members in advance of the media, 

whenever possible.

3. The medicolegal authority should only provide accurate and factual information within their sphere 

of responsibility and should refrain from speculation.

4. The medicolegal authority should assert their responsibility to report the confirmed number of 

fatalities.

5. The medicolegal authority should engage collaboratively with other response agencies and 

government officials.
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Annex B

(informative)

Bibliography

SWG MDI (2012), Guidelines for Media Relations: Dissemination of Public Information in Medicolegal 

Death Investigations

DMORT (2012), Victim Identification Center Team Procedure Manual

Twin Cities Operation Curtain Call AAR Workgroup (2014), Field Operations Guide for Reunification 

and Family Assistance

Reidenberg, J. R., Gellman, R., Debelak, J., Elewa, A., Liu, N. (2013) Privacy and Missing Persons after 

Natural Disasters. www.scribd.com/document/136520439/Privacy-and-Missing-Persons-after-NaturalDisasters