Table Of Content

D ' 1^(^ ^ [J\ ^ mmm Cover art by Laszio Bodrogi, Visual Information Directorate, National Defense University Meeting the Press: A Media Survival Guide for the Defense Manager For saleby theU.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent ofDooiments, MailStop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 ISBN 0-16-040478-9 Meeting the Press: A Media Survival Guide for the Defense Manager by Judson Conner 1993 National Defense University Fort Lesley J. McNair Washington, DC 20319-6000 NationalDefenseUniversityPressPublications To increase general knowledge and inform discussion. NDU Press publishes monographs, proceedings of University- sponsored symposia, and books relating to U.S. national security, especially to issues of joint, combined, or coalition warfare, peacekeeping operations, and national strategy. The Press occasionally publishes out-of-print defense classics, historical works, and other especially timely or distinguished writing on national security, anditisthehomeofJFQ:JointForceQuarterly, a forum for examining joint and combined warfare and exchangingideasofimportancetoallservices. Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or any other US Government agency. Cleared for public release: distributionunlimited. Portions of this book may be quoted or reprinted without permission, providedthatastandard sourcecreditlineisincluded. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints or reviews. NDU Press publications are sold by the U.S. Government Print- ingOffice. Fororderinginformation, call(202) 783-3238, orwrite to: Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing DC Office, Washington, 20402. Firstprinting, September 1993 LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Conner,Judson, 1925- Meetingthepress: amediasurvivalguideforthedefense manager/byJudsonConner, p. cm. — — 1. United States Ar—medForces Publicrelations. 2. Gov- ernment an—d the press United States. 3. Armed forces and mass media UnitedStates. I. Title. UH703.C66 1993 355.2 '42' 0973—dc20 93-28886 CIP 7 '0^ Contents Foreword ix S^^^^^ . Z\ <r~-.'\-->r Introduction xi 2hs^s^<^ Chapter I: That First Link 3 The Reporter 3 Pressures ofthe Trade 7 Techniques and Approaches 1 Reporter Codes 19 Use ofClassified Information 20 A Swarming ofReporters 23 Chapter II: Some Guides, Rules, and Warnings 27 The Rules 27 The Information Officer 32 Press Errors and What To Do About Them 37 Facing a Swarm ofKiller Reporters 43 The Press Ambush 45 And a Few More Points to Remember 46 Chapter III: The Press Interview 51 Preparing for the Interview 51 The Interview 54 The Post-Interview 57 Chapter IV: The Electronic Media 61 Radio 61 Television 63 vu 1 Chapter V: Conner's Commandments and Some Check Lists 81 The Commandments 8 General Check List 82 Interview Check List 83 Hostile Press Encounter Check List 85 Press Conference Check List 86 A Television Check List 87 Appendix: Understanding the Role ofthe Press 89 The Fourth Branch ofGovernment 89 Press Responsibility 93 The First Amendment 96 About the Author 103 vm