The Raleigh News & Observer reports that US soldiers receive mandatory “media training” before being deployed in Iraq. Training includes briefings by public-affairs specialists, a power point presentation, and “talking points” cards to help soldiers respond to embedded reporters.
Military public affairs officers say the idea isn’t to “spin” reporters. Rather, the goal is to familiarize troops with a duty that has become almost routine.
“The media is just another element of what we call the battlefield environment,” said Maj. Jason Johnston, a Pentagon spokesman for the Marine Corps.
One of the main messages is that talking to journalists is smart, not just because it paints an accurate picture of the military but also because it’s an opportunity. There was a gentle subtext to the course: Soldiers should dwell on the positive.
(Hat tip: Journalism.org)
