The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened its own media room.  The dedicated space at headquarters was created for media interviews and also serves as a studio where the NTSB has begun to produce some of its own messaging videos.

The space, located in room 6550 in the former Records Management Public Reading Room on the sixth floor, contains a lectern with the NTSB’s seal and a table and chairs for seated interviews.  In addition, the media room contains props such as photographs representing various transportation modes, a bookshelf with textbooks and displays, and backdrops with NTSB seals, thus allowing the space to have different settings.  The room is also equipped with technical equipment enabling the NTSB to produce its own videos.

“The media room was long overdue,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.  “In addition to having a dedicated space designed to accommodate media requests, the media room also eliminates those interruptions created when the broadcast media sets up for interviews in staff offices.  Moreover, the media room and the new technical equipment supports the agency’s venture into social media with video messaging, allowing us to reach a larger and younger audience.”

Chairman Hersman inaugurated the space on Friday, February 4, 2011 when she taped a video message on the NTSB’s 2011 child and youth transportation safety initiative.  The video, which is on the NTSB’s YouTube video channel, was taped by Antion Downs with the media room’s newly purchased high definition video camera, teleprompter, and video digital lights.

“Now, NTSB has the equipment to produce high-quality videos that assist in delivering the agency’s message about transportation safety,” Downs said.  

A larger media room, which will be suitable for press briefings, is included in the remodeling of the agency’s space at headquarters.

The former Record’s Management Public Reading Room is now located in room 6522, 50 feet from its former location.

Click here to view NTSB's Child and Youth Safety initiative video filmed in the new Safety Board's Media Room.