Media Training Now Required for Iraq-Bound Soldiers ..(Crib notes for all)

[SoCalDem]

Please read this article...


http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000760609

Media Training Now Required for Iraq-Bound Soldiers

By Joe Strupp

Published: January 18, 2005 12:00 PM ET

NEW YORK As the U.S. military approaches nearly two years in the Iraq conflict, media training for soldiers going into the war zone has been stepped up, becoming mandatory for Army troops since October, E&P has learned.

"Talking point" cards for military personnel, meanwhile, are being updated regularly as the war progresses -- often as much as once a week -- to keep up with the conflict's changing issues and the proximity of embedded reporters. Among the current talking points: "We are a values-based, people-focused team that strives to uphold the dignity and respect of all."

Soldiers preparing for deployment in hostile or critical areas have received some kind of media training in handling press inquiries since as far back as the first Persian Gulf War, according to several military press officers. Such training has also included pocket cards with suggested talking points for the combatants, which advise them how best to promote the military operation and avoid awkward or confrontational interviews.

"As situations happen, you will have ever-changing talking points, as much as every week," said Capt. Jeff Landis, a Marine Corps public-affairs spokesman. "They are tailored to the situation."


"snip....


In media training, meanwhile, soldiers are advised not to discuss classified information, to confine comments to their area of knowledge, and to stay on the record. Other advice includes talking to the interviewer, not the camera; avoiding acronyms, profanity, or a "no comment"; and not arguing or answering a question they do not want to answer.

snip...


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Joe Strupp ([e-mail]) is a senior editor at E&P.

[KharmaTrain]

1. What's The Bother...The Military Writes Most The Stories Now...

"Journalists" in Baghdad rarely leave their hotel rooms or the "Green Zone" and rely on the military as their primary, and in many cases, sole, source of information of what's going on. Or if they do embed, these "journalists" are scared shitless so they "bond" with their military brothers and their writing almost tinges on Stockholm Syndrome.

Unfortunately, many swallow the media/military double-speak more now than they did in Vietnam and gleefully ignore the truth in hopes of some great "victory". The media exerts its own pressure to wave the flag and "make us look good"...so whatever propaganda the Pentagon throwns in is just icing on the cake.

[SoCalDem]

2. The "talking points" used to be just for the upper ranking soldiers

but now they are for ALL of them.. It's scary.. They have to watch FOX and listen to Rush, and now this.. Is it any wonder they don't really understand what's going on?

It's all "frosting"...and no cake :(

[two gun sid]

3. When I got back from Grenada

they told us they would discipline us for talking to the press. I don't know what's worse: muzzle them or make them say what the military wants.

[SoCalDem]

4. Muzzling at least allows the soldier to feel good about his own opinions

even if he has to keep them private until he leave the service. Telling him what to say, more or less implies that he's "expected" to talk, but to "toe the line".. I think most soldiers are only thinking about themselves and the guys next to them (on a day to day basis). Some of them surely have got to be thinking.."Why are they making us say this stuff...what's REALLY going on?.."

This whole thing may actually backfire on them..