The Mission Information Officer & Press Briefings

[Pylon]

The mission information officer, in a passive sense, can deal with the inquiries and questions from the media and citizens who show up at mission sites, and control information flow about the mission for OPSEC and safety reasons.

But when CAP is the sole or primary agency on an actual distress mission, when it's complete and successful, why do we never have these types of briefings:



It seems we might get more national media attention, and thus the public's attention, for what we do (especially when we do it well) if we "tooted our own horn a bit" after each successful distress mission.  Not a news story two days after the fact on a piece of paper faxed and emailed to outlets.  The media loves to go to disaster/crash scenes.  When we save a life (as I keep seeing reports that we do) why can't we invite them, hold a proper media advisory to let the media know about the mission success, and put somebody behind the podium that can walk, talk, and act properly and be knowledgeable about the mission and CAP.

Am I missing these?  Do we do this already?  If we did more and more of these types of informational press briefings, it would seem we'd continually build awareness of and for our organization.  Maybe I'm off the mark, though.  Thoughts?

[RiverAux]

There was a press briefing during Katrina -- you can watch it on CAPChannel.  I'm not sure it was done all that well.

As to a post-mission press briefing it isn't really all that necessary to have a formal briefing.  If CAP was actually the only agency involved in a save you would very likely have a chance to do interviews with your local tv news stations who would probably be the only ones involved.  They would much rather have you one-on-one than in a briefing format. 

Also, the formal briefings are a lot riskier for the PA.  If one reporter asks a question that doesn't get a good answer the others will pick up on it and drive it home.  If you're one-on-one that isn't likely to happen.

[sardak]

It's not appropriate to have a press briefing after every successful incident.  Fire and law agencies don't have briefings after every incident - they send out press releases.  The incident has to be significant or newsworthy, or occur on a slow news day.  On the other hand, I know of one volunteer SAR team that after paging out its members on an incident, notifies the media, every time, before the team even knows the full nature of the incident.  The team is prepared should the media arrive.

Another issue is that CAP is rarely the primary agency on a significant event.  On incidents where CAP is a major player, and the lead agency has a press conference or briefing, it would be appropriate for CAP to be given time to speak or answer questions.  At the very least, the CAP rep should be present near the podium.

Also, the attitude of some that only the PIO or PAO should talk to the media is BS.  Think how many press briefings or conferences you've seen where an IC, sheriff, general, admiral or some other upper level person involved in the actual operations speaks or answers questions.  At some point in large incidents the press expects to hear and see someone besides the PIO/PAO.

Of course, not everyone can or should address the media, even some of those in positions that are expected to.  It has to be someone trained to do so, who can think on his/her feet and remain mentally, physically and  emotionally stable.  Despite these rules, there have been many bad press briefings caused when someone was given an opportunity to address the media and did so, but shouldn't have.

Your point is well taken though, and press briefing should be considered by CAP more often.

Mike

[arajca]

The Information Officer should be the primary contact with the media, but also needs to know when to get the boss out of the office for his public humilation meet the press session. Especially if there is a major announcement to be made. Routine briefings should be done by the IO or their staff.

[ZigZag911]

There was a formal press briefing during the early stages of the JFK Jr. search in 1998, conducted at Essex County Airport in Fairfield, NJ, which was the facility where the flight originated.  Cable news networks, the NY network affiliates, wire services, print journalists....you name it, they were there.

Briefing officer was the NJW CV of the time, who was an experienced MIO.

I was busy at our mission base (Morristown Airport, MMU) working mission management, so I did not get to see this....those present (included a retired AF reservist who had commanded a public affairs squadron!) said he did a really professional job.

Unfortunately he's no longer involved with CAP

[JohnKachenmeister]

The press normally isn't interested in formal briefings except in high-profile cases when that is the most efficient way of handling them, and they pretty much have to live with it.  There are too many news crews around to do anything else.

The press prefers to nose out their own story.  Since reporters are completely ignorant about not only CAP but the military in general, a patient PA officer is a requirement.  The PA officer will have to explain (repeatedly) the same background material over and over, and will have to explain things that are obvious to normal people to the media types in terms that can understand.

Everybody who has worked as a PA in the military has some great "Stupid Reporter Tricks" that they can tell you about.  My favorite was the reporter from Minnesota who came to Honduras, and did a stand-up in front of some vehicles, saying:  "In spite of the military's assurance of the safety of soldiers in this part of Honduras, these ominous-looking machine-gun trucks are kept in constant readiness near the flight line."  Cool, except the vehicles were fire trucks.

[Eclipse]

But when CAP is the sole or primary agency on an actual distress mission, when it's complete and successful, why do we never have these types of briefings:

Easy, we are NEVER the sole or primary agency on actual distress missions. 

The day we all realize that, is the day we can move things forward.

Name One.

Before you light the burner on the flame torch, rememeber that AFRCC is stands in front of everything we do.

We might be the LOCAL, and we might be the only RESOURCE, but we're never the primary.