ANTHRAX THREAT CHANGES NEWS MAIL POLICY

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

By JOHN F. BONFATTI

The News, like many news organizations adjusting to the spate of attempts to spread anthrax through the mail, is altering its package handling policy.

Bob Casell, News Executive Vice President, described the new policies at a meeting with members of the Guild’s Executive Committee Oct. 17.

"We are now going to open generically addressed mail and packages in a single room in the basement," Casell said, defining such mail as items addressed to "The Buffalo News" or to a specific department.

The only exception will be mail addressed to accounting. That mail will be opened in a separate room on the fourth floor.

Casell said the new procedures would be in place indefinitely, "until we feel safe and secure," and that gloves and masks would be available for people who want them when they are opening mail.

The News will continue to visually inspect all mail that comes into the newspaper, he said, but it will not open mail addressed to specific individuals.

Both the Guild and The News issued guidelines to workers on dealing with suspicious mail. Detailed instructions can be found at a number of places on the web, including http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax and http://www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm.

In general, experts say those who open mail should be wary of mail with incomplete or misspelled addresses, is of an unusual size or shape, has restrictive markings like "Personal" or "Confidential," or seems to feel or smell funny.

"If you get something you’re not comfortable with, throw it away or give it to your supervisor," Casell said.