Media Awareness

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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

  1. do not discuss future operations
  2. avoid precision in discussing troop strenght - use approxmite figures
  3. avoid identifying any members who fired rounds on operation
  4. do not show battle damage photos
  5. battle damage photos provide specific information on the effectiveness of enemy IED's
  6. 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.
  7. Members can only discuss what they themselves actually do and are not allowed to speculate on the actions of other members
  8. Members are accountable for the accuracy and currency of the information they make available to the public
  9. there is no such thing as off the record
  10. be truthful
  11. maintain composure and resist provocation
  12. do not speculate on hypothetical questions
  13. assert control over the journalist ensure you are in control of the interview
  14. talk to the reporter not the camera
  15. look positive and animated - smile
  16. do not use military jargon
  17. do not wear headware of sunglasses

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