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New media policy coming for Arlington burials

Conversations between Arlington National Cemetery officials and family members regarding media coverage of funerals would be strictly scripted in an effort to develop a clear understanding of the family’s wishes, according to a new draft policy being considered by Army Secretary Pete Geren.

And if family members give their consent for “limited audio coverage,” the main speaker at the service will be able to wear a wireless microphone so nearby reporters can hear the remarks.

Army officials unveiled the proposed policy in an unusual Friday afternoon roundtable with reporters and representatives of veterans groups, soliciting criticisms and suggestions to bring the policy into sharper focus. The Army secretary has oversight responsibility for Arlington.

The outsiders were invited to comment because coverage of funerals at Arlington has come under fire in recent months, sparked by a Washington Post column on the April 23 funeral of Marine Corps Lt. Col. Billy Hall that blasted Arlington officials for keeping the media out of earshot and at a disadvantageous camera angle despite the fact that the family granted permission for coverage.

A woman recently fired as Arlington’s public affairs officer, Gina Gray, says that was the doing of Thurman Higginbotham, the cemetery’s deputy director. She told Military Times that Higginbotham has made a practice of calling back families who have consented to coverage and trying to talk them out of their decision, sometimes successfully.

Higginbotham “categorically” denies making such calls and says Arlington works hard to give reporters the best possible access. No Arlington officials were present at the roundtable.

Asked how any new policy could prevent the making of such calls if the allegations are true, Stephanie Hoehne, principal deputy chief of Army public affairs, replied: “That’s an allegation that I’m not here to address.”

But she said there are “two steps to addressing” such concerns: ensuring that the policy is right, and examining how to execute that policy.

The draft policy certainly seems fashioned to more sharply define who can communicate with families on coverage. It says that families will have “primacy” in deciding on news coverage, that the casualty assistance officer assigned to the grieving family “or an administrator designated” by the Arlington superintendent will ask for the family’s decision, and that a pre-approved script will be used to conduct the conversation.

The intent, Hoehne said, is that the script will be read by the casualty assistance officer. Hoehne said the wording of the script has not yet been finalized, but her intention is that “the script does not influence the family one way or the other.”

The family would also be asked specific questions regarding coverage and, if limited audio coverage is granted, made aware that a chaplain or the main speaker will wear a wireless microphone to allow reporters to hear what is said. Coverage would be limited to the ceremony itself, and media would not be allowed to approach family members on the spot for interviews or photographs.

But that rule applies only to funeral services at Arlington, not outside the actual service, Hoehne said.

The casualty assistance officer would be given a phone number for Army public affairs to pass along should the family have questions.

The distance between the media and the funeral party was not detailed in the draft policy; it says photographers would be placed “in an area designated” by the Arlington superintendent. Those in attendance at the roundtable recommended that this provision be worded more precisely.

Discussion followed about placing responsibility for public affairs at Arlington back in the hands of the Military District of Washington and its public affairs office, since trained and qualified public affairs officers with the authority to act would know how to resolve differences over proximity and other potential conflicts. MDW was removed from that responsibility for Arlington several years ago.

Public affairs responsibilities will be spelled out in the execution policy, Hoehne said.

The key to successfully implementing the policy, she said, will be to get casualty assistance officers properly trained so that they understand the intent.

“The intent is no longer to figure out a reason to bar the media,” Hoehne said. “The intent is to find ways to accommodate the media as the family wishes ... that the family is genuinely given the opportunity to decide, for themselves, what they want to do, with awareness of what the options are and what that means.”

Asked by Joe Davis of Veterans of Foreign Wars if the spirit of the draft policy is being implemented “right now,” Hoehne replied: “I can’t answer that, because I am not observing the execution.”

The script to be used will be written once the policy is approved. Once the policy is firmed up — Hoehne expects to have a final draft for Geren to review sometime next week — the Army will fashion the script and the execution policy document, she said.

READ MORE: Media access to funerals allegedly discouraged