Media Awareness
Media Objectives, Limitations, and influencing factors
- recognize that how operations are portrayed in the media affect their actual execution (halting, launching them etc…)
media is a double edged sword
- some media repersent a threat to operations
- media also represents an opportunity to influence public opinion amonst our support group and reinforce negative public opinion againt that of our adversaries
- Operations security (OPSEC)
- ensure that reporters are clear about the facts before the interview is concluded
prerequite questions before granting an interview
- what are the specific subjects the story is discussing?
- what have you learned so far?
OPSEC rules
- do not discuss future operations
- avoid precision in discussing troop strenght - use approxmite figures
- avoid identifying any members who fired rounds on operation
- do not show battle damage photos
- battle damage photos provide specific information on the effectiveness of enemy IED's
- ensure security at the source - if you don't want a photographer to take photos of a map, cover the map before he or she arrives.
- Members can only discuss what they themselves actually do and are not allowed to speculate on the actions of other members
- Members are accountable for the accuracy and currency of the information they make available to the public
- there is no such thing as off the record
- be truthful
- maintain composure and resist provocation
- do not speculate on hypothetical questions
- assert control over the journalist ensure you are in control of the interview
- talk to the reporter not the camera
- look positive and animated - smile
- do not use military jargon
- do not wear headware of sunglasses
page revision: 0, last edited: 03 Jan 2008 01:39