ESTABLISHING GOOD MEDIA RELATIONS

Four key words should govern your relations with representatives of the mass media. They are as follows: security, honesty, accuracy and promptness.

Security

Make sure the information you release to the media does not contain security violations. In addition to getting yourself neck-deep in trouble, you may endanger the welfare of your country. You should adopt this slogan: "When in doubt, check it out."

Honesty

Your good name is your most valuable asset. Justify the media's belief and trust in the Navy by playing the news game honestly. Never fake a story or serve a selfish interest. Do an honest, straightforward job of reporting the news. Credit your source. Never plagiarize or use copyrighted material without permission.

Accuracy

Every news release or statement released to the media must be 100-percent accurate. Make one blunder and the media will lose confidence in you. Be sure to check and double-check all statements, names, addresses, dates and numbers. Be sure your personal opinions do not interfere with your media relations. Your job is to tell the facts.

Promptness

A good Navy journalist aims for speed without sacrificing accuracy. Reporters want their material quickly, because competition is keen and the public demands fresh news. As long as you can supply this material the way they want it and in time to meet their deadlines, you can expect cooperation.

MEDIA VISITS

Media representatives visiting your ship or station are considered guests of the CO, even when they are covering an assignment. As guests, they are due the utmost courtesy and respect. As working men and women, they rate your frill cooperation and assistance.

If you are assigned to escort a reporter on a tour of the ship or station, plan your route ahead of time. Include as many points of interest as possible within security limits. Be relaxed and natural in your actions. Let the reporter know you know your job, but do not try to talk above your level of expertise. Any experienced reporter can sense a "snow job."

Reporters may be permitted to travel aboard Navy ships and aircraft to cover news events when this travel is in the interest of the DoD or DON. However, travel must not place the Navy in a position of competing with established commercial transportation facilities along the same route. Transportation furnished is not considered to be in competition with commercial facilities when the travel is necessary for news material to be obtained which is related to the ships or aircraft in which the media representative is embarked or to personnel or cargo on board or when correspondents are invited to report on a matter considered of special interest to the Navy.

While aboard, reporters traveling on Navy ships may transmit their stories using shipboard communications facilities. Specific regulations and procedures for the handling of press traffic are found in Chapter 3 of PA Regs and the Navy Communications Manual, NTP-9.

For more detailed information regarding media visits, consult Chapters 3 and 4 of the JO 1 & C TRAMAN.