Media Roles in Traffic Media Roles in Traffic Communication and Communication and CoordinationCoordination
OverviewOverview
60 employees, about half full-time60 employees, about half full-time
Open 24/7/365 with at least four people in at all Open 24/7/365 with at least four people in at all timestimes
Provide service to over 40 radio stations and 1 TV Provide service to over 40 radio stations and 1 TV station all over southern California including station all over southern California including LA/OC, IE, Lancaster, Victorville, Santa Barbara, LA/OC, IE, Lancaster, Victorville, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and TemeculaSan Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Temecula
Provide data feeds to other vendors such as Provide data feeds to other vendors such as Navigation Systems, websites, etcNavigation Systems, websites, etc
Information DistributionInformation Distribution
Broadcast Producer
Data Producer
Resources
Plain English Script
Website
Database
ReportersRadio
TVActiveMaps
Websites
TV Maps
Navigation
Current ResourcesCurrent Resources
Aircraft (2 planes, 1 Aircraft (2 planes, 1 helicopter)helicopter)
CHP CADCHP CAD CHP TMCCHP TMC ScannersScanners Speed Flow Maps Speed Flow Maps
(City Streets & (City Streets & Highway)Highway)
Proprietary Proprietary CamerasCameras
Caltrans & City DOT Caltrans & City DOT CamerasCameras
REACTREACT Cell CallersCell Callers
SuccessesSuccesses
CHP permitting media access to CADCHP permitting media access to CAD Caltrans increasingly adding access to still and Caltrans increasingly adding access to still and
moving camerasmoving cameras TMCs in major metropolitan areasTMCs in major metropolitan areas Caltrans PIO Press Releases for major Caltrans PIO Press Releases for major
incidentsincidents Good relationships between media and state Good relationships between media and state
agencies. State is very media friendlyagencies. State is very media friendly
Areas for ImprovementAreas for Improvement
Additional camera coverage and more Additional camera coverage and more stable streamingstable streaming Rotating streaming cameras with still Rotating streaming cameras with still
cameras alsocameras also Special incident stream that TMC could Special incident stream that TMC could
change when there is a big incident in change when there is a big incident in camera viewcamera view
Areas for ImprovementAreas for Improvement
Better relationships and Better relationships and communication with local agenciescommunication with local agencies Understand that the media is not the Understand that the media is not the
enemy and can be beneficialenemy and can be beneficial Make sure to notify CHP and media when Make sure to notify CHP and media when
conducting actions on freeways and state conducting actions on freeways and state highwayshighways
Different Information NeedsDifferent Information Needs
Traffic ReportersTraffic Reporters
Basic description of Basic description of incidentincident
Lanes blockedLanes blocked DurationDuration What point in the What point in the
process of clearingprocess of clearing Effect on trafficEffect on traffic
News ReportersNews Reporters
NamesNames Detailed factsDetailed facts Sound bitesSound bites ImagesImages
Why Cooperate with the Why Cooperate with the Media?Media?
Cooperation and communication with the Cooperation and communication with the media helps public agencies because...media helps public agencies because...
People are directed away from the incident locationPeople are directed away from the incident location People are educated about the circumstances and People are educated about the circumstances and
complications of the incident, therefore less angry and complications of the incident, therefore less angry and inconvenienced inconvenienced
Media more likely to help agencies get the word out Media more likely to help agencies get the word out during campaignsduring campaigns