Military / Media Relations

Defense Institute of International Legal Studies

Newport, RI
2 Public Perception Has
an Impact
• Elected Decision Makers
• Military Members
3
Influences on the
Public’s Perception of the Military

• Media
• Political Leaders
• Private Organizations
• Personal Contact
4 Keys to Positive Public Perception

• Awareness of impact of
public perception
• Training
• Public Affairs /
Procedures
• Transparent Military
Justice System
5 Principles for
Public Affairs Officers

• Make information available

• No censorship
• Withhold only to protect security, safety,
or privacy
• Conduct public affairs planning &
coordination
6
Functions of Public Affairs Office

• Media Relations

• Internal Information

• Community
Relations
7 Laws Regulating the Release of
Information

Freedom of Information Act

• Disclosure is the rule

• Equal access

• Government must justify any denial

of access
8 Classification of Information
Classified documents procedure:
• Decision to release by designated
officials
• Classification limitations
Internal practices and rules
Trade secrets
Memos and letters
Personnel and medical files
Investigatory records
Exempt by statute
9 Media Goals vs. Military Goals

News is a product to sell vs. Mission comes first

Information = commodity vs. Information = asset

Seek access to information vs. Restrict access

Broad principles, loosely organized vs. Rules, tightly

organized
10
THE DILEMMA. . .
MILITARY JUSTICE

PUBLIC PERSONAL
INTEREST PRIVACY
11
U.S. Solution: Military Justice

• Courts-Martial Open to Journalists--But

No Cameras

• Release:
 Name  Rank  Hometown
 Charge  Details of Confinement
12
The Dilemma: Military Operations

PUBLIC OPERATIONAL
RIGHT SECURITY
TO KNOW
13 U.S. Solution: Military Operations
• Commander’s Control

• Roaming Journalists

• Press Pools
14 Press Pools
• Pre-selected, given access to area of
operations and military information

• Possible conditions for inclusion:

– Ready to respond when notified to
deploy
– No reporting of deployment without
permission
– Remain with military escort
– Military review of reporting prior to
release
15 Embedding of Media

Provides long-term, minimally

restrictive access to military
operations

– Live, work & travel with

military units

– Commanders to ensure
media provided
opportunities to observe
actual combat operations

– All interviews on the record

16 False Reporting… The Dilemma

FREE MISLEADING
SPEECH THE PUBLIC
17 U.S. Solution

• Rebuttal

• Media Conference

• Defamation Laws
18 Conclusion

• Vital Role of the Media

• Military/Media Cooperation

• Methods of Allowing Media Access to

Information
Military / Media Relations

Defense Institute of International Legal Studies

Newport, RI