A COMMON MISPERCEPTION

There is a tendency for Navy journalists to believe they are part of America's free press and thus part of the investigative journalist corps. This notion could not be further from the truth.

The moniker "Navy journalist" is misleading because the JO is a public information specialist - not a free press journalist. Navy journalists are assigned to command information, public information and community relations duties. When assigned to public information staffs, Navy journalists write releases to tell the Navy story and to respond to queries by the investigative free press. When assigned to command information staffs, Navy journalists may write for civilian enterprise (CE) or funded command newpapers - what the industry terms "in-house" publications.

Just as a writer for commercial industry would not write investigative articles concerning his company for the in-house publication, Navy journalists would not write investigatively concerning their own individual commands or the Navy. Navy journalists may tackle controversial social issues in print or on videotape, but they must avoid works that attack or injure, or that give the impression of attacking or injuring their commands or the Navy.

NEWS IN THE NAVY COMMUNITY

New Navy journalists are often confused about their role in the Navy community. Most are familiar with the print and electronic media back home. They are used to the civilian reporter investigating, or reporting on the investigation of fraud, waste or abuse in the local, county or state government.

In arriving at their first duty assignment, they find a community that seems to be somewhat similar to that of their hometown. The CO seems to be the mayor, and the chief master-at-arms represents the chief of police. The CO's staff fills the rest of the government positions. There are schools, stores, businesses and recreational services.

However, Navy journalists must learn that the CO is not so much a mayor as he is the president of a company. Likewise, the Navy community is really much like a company town. Your job within this community is to enhance morale, to increase readiness and productivity, to be the voice of the CO to his community, and to inform, educate and entertain the Navy's internal audience.

PERSONAL TRAITS

To accomplish the assignments previously mentioned, the Navy journalist must have certain personal characteristics. Some are general characteristics that contribute to success in any rating, but others are an integral part of the public affairs profession. The characteristics of appearance, voice, military bearing, courtesy and personality will become more evident as you read this TRAMAN and complete the accompanying nonresident training course (NRTC).

APPEARANCE

Good personal appearance is especially important to the Navy journalist. Most of your work will be relatively clean in nature, so it is possible to work hard and still look neat. Since your duties place you in a position to meet visitors, escort reporters, interview VIPs, act as a tour guide, and so forth, good appearance is more necessary than in some other jobs in the Navy. Always make sure every aspect of your personal appearance, from your haircut to the edge dressing on your shoes, is first-rate.

VOICE

Voice and manner of speaking are important. You should avoid an overly loud voice, but likewise, you should avoid speaking too low or indistinctly. Localisms of vocabulary or accent maybe merely pleasant marks of individuality, or they maybe hindrances because they make the speaker hard to understand. If you have conspicuous speech habits of this sort, you should attempt to correct them. Your attention to pronunciation of words will always be worthwhile.