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UNITED STATES
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
40774?
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
April 2, 1956
Dear Jim:
In close coordination with the DepartmentofDefensewe are pro-
ceeding with a program for public reporting on a pooled basis (with
the exception of the wire services) of the first detonation in the
upcoming
huclear test series at the Eniwetok Proving Ground which
is scheduled for about May 1, 1956.
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The media allocations for this occasion are as follows: one each
from the wire services; one pool representative for morning news-—papers and one for afternoon papers; one photographer for the still
picture syndicates and one for weekly news periodicals; a televis—
ion recording crew consisting of a newsman, cameraman and sound engineer; a theatrical newsreel crew consisting of a cameraman and
sound engineer, a radic newsman and engineer, and one pool newsman
from the three weekly news magazines whose representatives at the
White House operate as a pool for special events.
This makes a total of 15 news representatives. We are inviting the
United States Information Agency to send one representative. About
20 civil defense observers also will make the trip. They are to be
selected by the Federal Civil Defense Administration.
Honolulu will. be the point of assembly and disembarkation. The newsmen will defray the cost of transportation to Honolulu and return
and the expenses for meals for the duration of the observer program.
In behalf of the Department of Defense and the Commission, I am
issuing invitations to the appropriate Washington media organizations
(specimen copy attached) and requesting their assistance in select—
ing pool representatives. If they decline this task, we will select
by lot from the applications on file by April 6.
The organizations being asked to make the pool selections are: The
Capitol Press Gallery (the two newspaper representatives); the Washington Radio and Television Correspondents Association (the radio
and television representatives); and the White House Photographers
Association (the still photographers and theatrical newsreel repre-
sentatives). ‘\i@¢ are asking the Washington bureau chiefs of Time and
Newsweek and the managing editor of U.S. News and World Report to
select the one representative for the weekly news macazines.