Media Guide : News & Media

This guide explains the policies and procedures to be used by media when covering news stories at Denver International Airport.

  Media Policy

DIA’s policy is to facilitate media coverage of newsworthy events and to cooperate with media representatives to make clear and accurate information available. Precedence will be given, however, to safeguarding lives and property during an emergency and to maintaining safe and efficient passenger flow and uninterrupted airport operations at all times.

  Media Line

Recorded information on changing situations at DIA will be put on the Media Line (303) 342-2280. During the initial stages of an emergency at DIA, the Media Line will be the best source of information while Public Relations staff respond to the event and gather information for subsequent media briefings.

  Press Releases

News releases regarding the airport or aviation-related issues are distributed by Public Relations via e-mail, and are also posted on DIA’s Web site, www.FlyDenver.com. Contact the Public Relations and Marketing Office at (303) 342-2250 to add or update your e-mail address.

  Inquiries

To facilitate reporting of airport-related stories, initial media inquiries should be directed to the Airport Public Relations Office, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on all federal and municipal holidays.

Denver International Airport
Public Relations and Marketing Office
Airport Office Building, Roome 9850
8500 Peña Boulevard
Denver, Colorado  80249

Phone: (303) 342-2250
Fax:  (303) 342-2266

Airport Public Relations will make every effort to meet media deadlines. However, we ask that media give us ample notice, particularly when requesting interviews or seeking detailed information that might require some research.

After hours or on weekends or holidays, media needing airport-related information may call the Public Relations Duty Pager. Leave a message with the information requested, your name, news organization and call-back number. A Public Relations representative will return your call as quickly as possible. Please use this number only for requests that cannot be accommodated during normal business hours. Media are asked not to give this number to the general public.

  Live Coverage

Fiber-optic ports for live television transmission are provided at the following locations in Jeppesen Terminal:  south bridge, Level 6;  Press Interview Room (for use during news conferences or special events), and beneath telephone banks south of Doors 612 and 613 and north of Doors 604 and 605.

  Access

Media are allowed unescorted in all public areas of Jeppesen Terminal. Tenant areas (shops, restaurants, airline gate areas, etc.) are leasehold space. Media must obtain the tenant’s permission and escort, if required, to photograph, videotape or otherwise gather information in those areas.

Media are required to be escorted into sterile or restricted areas.  Airport Public Relations will try to comply with media requests for escorts if time and staffing allow.  To obtain an escort badge, media must provide their name, address and date of birth, and present a valid government-issued photo ID.

No cables, extension cords, lights, etc., may be placed in any public area without prior approval from Airport Public Affairs. Such items, if approved, must not interfere with passenger flow or airport operations.

  Parking

DIA will provide gratis parking for media while they are covering airport-sponsored events, such as news conferences, airline inaugurals, etc., or during critical incidents.  Media may park in any garage or lot, and Public Relations staff will ensure that media parking tickets are validated.

At all other times, media are expected to pay regular parking fees.

Microwave and satellite trucks may park only in the Economy Lot on the west side of Jeppesen Terminal. Such vehicles must not block roadways or otherwise impede traffic flow in the lot.

Media vehicles are not allowed to park in any infield area, driveway or along the shoulder of any airport roadway, or in curbside areas of Jeppesen Terminal.

  CCTV

Denver International Airport has given the city's television stations access to the video feed from selected closed-circuit TV cameras. The intent of the agreement was to facilitate coverage of weather-related stories which, because of DIA's size and physical layout, would have been more difficult without CCTV access.

The agreement with the stations gives the manager of aviation the right to temporarily suspend CCTV access for the "safety and security needs of the City.” Accordingly, the manager can suspend access if he or she determines that public broadcast of the video feed might jeopardize the security of the airport, the safety of employees or passengers, or the privacy of any employee or airport user.

Examples of situations in which media access to the CCTV feed will be temporarily suspended include:

1. Aircraft crash and subsequent rescue/body removal activities
2. Fire, explosion or other disastrous event
3. Hostage/hijacking where law enforcement actions must remain secret
4. Bomb threat and resulting search

The manager may decide, at his or her discretion, to suspend access during other situations.  Every effort will be made to ensure that media access to CCTV video feeds is not shut off arbitrarily.

  Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency at the airport:

Initially, all media should report to the DIA Press Room located on Level 6, west side of Jeppesen Terminal. Media identification will be required for access to an incident site or into a designated press area. Telephones and fiber-optic ports are available in the Press Room.

Airport Public Relations staff will disseminate information related to airport facilities and operations. Media briefings will be scheduled periodically as new information is obtained. Airport Public Relations will secure approval for media access to the site of the emergency if appropriate. Every attempt will be made to provide a suitable incident observation area for media representative.

Airport Public Relations will not act as spokesman for any agency, airline or other company unless requested to do so. The airline involved in an emergency is responsible for providing information regarding passengers aboard the aircraft, together with any detailed information about the flight crew, flight activities and the plane itself.

Media requests for access to aircraft operating areas (runways, taxiways, etc.) will be granted only after clearance is given by appropriate airport officials. Media must be escorted by authorized airport personnel, and site restrictions may require a pool arrangement.  Persons gaining unauthorized access to the site of an incident are subject to arrest and prosecution.

The Department of Aviation’s first responsibility is to the victims and their right to privacy. Media will not arbitrarily be denied access to victims, but the Department of Aviation will support and enforce the decision of victims who choose not to be interviewed and/or photographed. Access to victims may require approval by the involved airline, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or other agencies.

For emergencies or events taking place on airport property, but not directly related to airport operations, an Airport Public Relations representative will assist that company or agency in disseminating information if requested to do so.

News helicopters will not be allowed to land on airport property without prior authorization from the FAA and the Department of Aviation.

In the event of a bomb threat, access to all restricted areas of the airport will be denied.

Media will not resist, obstruct, oppose or interfere with any law enforcement officer in the lawful execution of his or her duties. Media are not exempt from any federal, state or local laws and, if arrested, will be dealt with in the same manner as any other violator.  Observation and adherence to the policies stated herein will assure that both the airport and media will continue to serve the public interest.

  Aviation Regulatory Agencies (for emergency situations)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)  www.ntsb.gov
The NTSB is one of the federal agencies that investigates aircraft accidents involving serious injury or substantial property damage.  The agency takes custody of the aircraft and its contents from the time fire/rescue operations are concluded until a full investigation is completed or releases are issued. Upon the arrival of an NTSB investigating team, the Airport staff will assume a support role as requested.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  www.faa.gov
Various branches of the FAA have responsibilities in an aircraft emergency.  The FAA operates the control tower and will direct air traffic during an emergency to permit equipment to proceed to the accident site.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  www.fbi.gov
The FBI has jurisdiction if an emergency situation occurs aboard an aircraft that is still on the ground. If an aircraft is in flight and an event occurs, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has jurisdiction.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)  www.tsa.gov
TSA is a national agency under the Department of Homeland Security. The TSA is charged with providing security for the traveling public and for all commercial transportation. TSA personnel operate and manage airport passenger security checkpoints and checked baggage security systems.