by Colonel Steven Boylan
Download the full article: A Way to Accomplish Interviews for Commanders and Staff
The path to successful interviews and media relations is an art, not science. It is a combination of building blocks based upon common sense, relationship building with the media (and individual reporters), practice, rehearsals and a degree of confidence and desire to engage.
There are a number of ways to conduct interviews. Nobody has the market cornered on good ideas and what works for one person will not work for another. The key is to be flexible, understand the environment in which you are about to enter and get experienced Public Affairs Officers in the mix early. Above all, common sense must prevail. The golden rule, if you do not want to see it in print; do not say it. I have told many over the years, if you are okay seeing what you said on the six o'clock news in your home town or on the front page of the paper for your family to see, then you are probably okay. That is not a guarantee, but for the most part you will be fine.
For the inexperienced individual being interviewed, always consider everything you say to be on-the-record. That is advice we as public affairs officers give to those we interact with, especially if we are not there to assist and if they have never talked with the reporter prior to the interview. That is the safest approach to take. In addition, keep it simple, do not use jargon and stay in your lane are all part of the mantra you hear.
Download the full article: A Way to Accomplish Interviews for Commanders and Staff
Colonel Steven Boylan, who will be retiring this fall is currently an Assistant Professor in the Command & General Staff College, Department of Command & Leadership. He has more than 15 years of public affairs experience at two - four star commands in the Army and Combined and Joint assignments. He has been the principal PAO for senior leaders since 1999 to include General David Petraeus for approximately three years. His last public affairs assignment was as the Battle Command Training Program senior public affairs observer/trainer and PAO.
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Kanani,
COL Boylan probably meant we have an obligation to talk about the sons, daughters, husbands and wives who make up the military. He doesn't suggest leaders have an obligation to talk about their own family, but the soldiers, who are sons, daughters, husbands and wives of Americans who support them. Simply a misplaced pronoun.
Okay, I read the whole thing. Interesting though I think one thing people don't consider that for many who use social media, what they write is also considered on the record and fair game to use --even in some small way.
In the larger scope, which includes the use of social media as it pertains to journalism, I do take issue with this: <i> "Leaders at all levels have an obligation to tell the public what is happening with their sons,
daughters, husbands, and wives."</i>
I don't think anyone has any obligation to share what's going on with any family member. Period. Family members have private lives, and while asides may be a sign of friendliness they owe the media or their social networking followers nothing. One does not want to sacrifice the privacy of family members in order to appear folksy.
If anything, the person being interviewed has to have as much as an objective as the interviewer. It's the only way for the subject to stay on track.
If it's a call for more media training, then go for it.