Reporter teaches soldiers how to respond to media "anti-American propaganda machine"

[guruoo]

101ST NOTEBOOK
Reporter plays role in training exercise
by Chantal Escoto

At the prompting of Austin Peay State University journalism professor Patricia
Ferrier, we asked a few tough questions, but nothing out of the ordinary. The
goal was to test the company leaders about how to respond to the "mean spin doctors"
called the media.

<snip>

The second victim in the hot seat was Capt. Frank Baez, who had to report on the
deaths of civilians during a firefight in a Samarra marketplace. The scenario was
prime pickins' for an anti-American propaganda machine, so the U.S. military had
to fight back with their own story.

The story went like this: Local citizens are upset and feel U.S. forces initiated
the contact and used excessive force. They are also upset because they say U.S.
forces fire whenever they are attacked, which leads to civilians getting killed.

Baez described what happened and gave the best explanation he could — that the
insurgents put themselves in the building that housed the civilians and the soldiers
were defending themselves. But he was careful not to reveal the rules of engagement,
a no-no when it comes to giving the enemy the upper hand.

<snip>

http://theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070902/COLUMNISTS14/709020315/1014/OPINION

[unhappycamper]

1. .

~snip~

Having never been a PR talk piece for the Army, I imagine it's difficult to put up with some reporter's questions at a moment's notice. But that's the Army way. To overcome and adapt and be fast on your feet and quick with your words.