To PR or not to PR

[Hard Bernard]

:confused: We are being asked to get involved with filming a documentary series and there is a lot of conflicting advice as to the perceived risks about being filmed for TV or photographed for the papers or RAF News. What are the actual risks associated with being on TV or in the papers/RAF News and how does that square with the massive publicity machine that swings into action when we are chosen as display pilots or even, God forbid, selected for the Reds?

[keiysersaucy]

From one who knows: there are people out there who's job it is to collect and file publicity about people of interest who they might meet in the future, in the course of their work. If you feel there is no chance of you coming across these people, for instance on a very big beach holiday over xmas, or camping and walking in Cornwall then go ahead. My advice is don't be tempted by a bit of fame, these people do exist. Sorry to be all criptic, I just want to advise without comebacks.

[RoyalRock]

I will confirm that last post. I am one of those people and I know exactly how popular we are with sqn personnel too! However, on a serious note if we can do it then so can others, and they do. Steer clear as much as possible from all photo opportunities and press appearences. For the most up to date advice feel free to give us a ring, your CSRO has the number!! I promise we won't invite you to a bonus Cornish camping trip either.

[Regie Mental]

It is always in the discretion of the subject to take part in an interview although the more senior one becomes the more you are expected to play ball.

There is no doubt however that those who have participated in certain training courses steer clear of media and RAF PR like the plague for obvious security reasons, although the fact that the more senior you are the more likely you are to be targeted doesn't appear to have dawned on anyone yet.

However we should all recognise the benefits of positive PR to help persuade the powers that be to give the services more money and to aid recruitment. Also, if the great crusade goes ahead, the PR/media ops guys will have their work cut out dealing with a potentially hostile media so help them if you can.

Reg

[Proman]

The whole tenet of PR is this: bad news will always travel on its own but needs responding to, and all good news needs promoting and managing. An organisation with bad PR, or even no PR will have a bad reputation, or worse still, no reputation at all.

The effects of this 'reputation' may be widespread - from recruitment, to morale and retention, to making families feel involved when you're away doing strange jobs, detering the enemy, to selling low flying to the occupants of lowland rural Britain.

The other aspect is that, like it or not, we do have a quizzical, even aggressive media. They won't go away and their role is important, both as a communications conduit and as a democratic safeguard. However many in the media ('on the outside' as they see it) believe in conspiracy theories, and the only way to counter this is with openness and honesty, backed up by esxperience and facts. We've all moaned about inaccurate stories and coverage - but how often will that be because the journalist tried to get the facts from our perspective but was rebutted. Saying 'No comment' doesn't mean they won't run the story.

It doesn't mean we have to roll over and have our tummies tickled. Indeed robust and considered media management on our side is as important as journalism on their side - it helps both the service and the media. And of course it means there are times when you need to say 'I'm sorry, I can't talk about that'...but then yu should go on to explain why you're not being more helpful, and what the consequences would be if it were to be made public.

As for 'Fly on the Wall', views differ. The Navy are about to embark on a new ITV drama series set on board ship which they hope will do wonders. They've successfully negotiated strong rights to put their point of view and alter scripts, when the line taken by the programme is 'difficult'. Whatever view you form when it is eventualy transmitted, one thing is for sure - their recruitment and applications will soar. Just as Easyjet has benefited enormously even though Airline shows them week after week in full-on mode sorting out the human detritus which seems to enjoy hassling staff for fun/suspending intelligent thought!

The key is to negotiate a god deal from the start, insist on seeing all final scripts, have an assertive but pro PR liaison officer who's on the case full-time and has authority to make things happen in the service as well as manage the media, become friends with the crew so you can influence more, insist on seeing final versions, and for making cuts if necessary - not just on grounds of secrecy, but legal reasons etc..

However don't expect editorial rights to remove a section just because something is uncomfortable. Be realistic that things may well go wrong - we operate in a service of 50,000 people, in a complex environmet - the public simply wouldn't believe it doesn't go pear shaped from time to time. Indeed the humanity will reassure them that the service is responsive and relates to the real world. And those things will be used - they make good television - and we all enjoy watching many of those programmes. The thing is to be honest about the difficulty, make sure the programme makers put it into context of all the times it goes right, and that they show the efficient way the problem is dealt with (hopefully!!!).

And a final thing: If you're thinking of accepting a Fly on the Wall opportunity as a Unit, for Gawd's sake make sure someone with lots of brass on their hat, via Corporate Comms, or your own PR set-up knows. You won't be thanked if someone chokes on their post dinner port one evening when it comes on without warning!!! At the end of the day their view will be critical in deciding whether the benefits of raising the profile balance or outweigh the potential downside.

[Scud-U-Like]

'Those people' are gonna have a field day with certain 23 Sqn girls and boys then! Mind you, should they meet 'those people', they'll have to bear-all eventually, so just think of it as an ice-breaker. ;)

Some very sound advice from Proman. Publicity can have a nasty habit of coming back to bite you on the @rse, either as an individual or an organisation. I don't think 'Soldiers To Be' or 'HMS Brilliant' did much for the reputations of the Army and RN respectively. 'Real life military documentary' and 'good publicity' are not necessarily synonymous.

[Talking Radalt]

At risk of sounding terribly blase about the whole security thing, are "those people" really so devoid of common sense that they can't and won't get the same info from other sources beyond our control?
Picture the scene, large smoking hole where a GR1 used to be, pair of dashingly good looking aviator types wandering around near said hole looking slightly dazed still attached to a British made parachute, British kit, eccentric moustaches.
You don't need to be Einstein to work out who they are and what they were doing there, even if they have managed to "evade" for a few days.:rolleyes:
I really do believe the whole "they're out there watching us" argument is very blinkered, especially when you consider some of the other holes in fence that need plugging.
I wouldn't disagree for one second that these agencies do exist and are active all the time, but to think NOT appearing on TV or in the press (whilst having your personal career profile printed in the Air Force List) is somehow going to grind their Int machine to an untimely halt is well, wishful thinking.
Whilst giving them information on a plate might make life easy for them, not giving it to them isn't going to make it any harder, except on yourself perhaps ("Baldrick! The cocker spaniel please!.....")
And as for giving "them" a so-called lever, the only lever people like that use is also employed in baseball.
Anyway there are ways to give the press what they want without compromsing personal or general security.........which is not a dirty word Blackadder.

Go on, call me a fool but it'll be my knackers in the vice not yours and I'll deal with that one at the time.:p

[Chinese Vic]

Picture the scene: Dingy basement somewhere under the Akedemy Prospekt, two badly dressed swarthy chaps with dodgy accents are watching a British satellite broadcast, re-transmitted from a ground station somewhere in Europe. Both are unshaven, are smoking unfiltered cigarettes and in the corner a TV screen flickers in the haze....

Boris: "Look what the British are showing on their TV now, Alexandr."

Alex: "What are those fools up to now?"

Boris: "They are showing a documentary which depicts their finest aviators operating their best and newest machinery. This will save us going to Farnborough this year!

Alex: "Here is an exercise....they fly lower than we do! (Reaches for video control) I have it on tape now. Aahh this is their 'Red Flag' exercise in America."

Boris: "I love their drunken songs, their sense of humour! Always talking about the toilet...."

Alex: "Better still, the film crews have gained access to their Officers' and NCOs Mess and have shown the typical British 'High Spirits'. Do they not know how much information this gives us?"

Boris: "They are saying that their equipment is out-dated, but it will be better when the new aircraft arrives...."

Alex (Rubs hands together): "And look, here is an interview with Mrs Bloggs, the wife of one of their pilots...and aaah, here are Billy and Sally Bloggs, their two fine children."

Boris: "Mrs Bloggs is complaining about all the time her fighter pilot husband spends in the desert. Do you know what this means, Alex?"

Both: "No overtime for us this week! Vodka all round!!!!"


Okay, the whole scenario is very tongue-in-cheek and played for laughs, but to take this seriously, would you want your friends and family exposed unnecessarily? Why hand over information on a plate? It's not just about equipment capabilities and performance - one of the major achievements of this type of work is getting to understand the mindset and morale of your opponent...the bad guys must have a field day with these programmes. I would think very carefully about signing up to a documentary like this.

Fully prepared to be called a party pooper, but there you go.

CV;)

(edited for spoolchocking)

[Jackonicko]

Mind boggling!

Unless you intend avoiding ever leaving your MQ patch, and unless you've somehow avoided any mention in the RAF list, the RAF News, Station magazines, etc. then appearing on 'Air Base' or whatever will not expose you to much additional risk, beyond a great deal of banter and mickey taking, and some embarrassing conversations with small boys at the next Waddington air show.

If you ever fall into unfriendly hands, having appeared on Blue Peter is unlikely to cause an appreciable difference to the outcome or the experience.

Revealing the mindset and morale of the UK armed forces? That's a big unknown for the bad guys then? Come on! It is, however, important that the taxpayers and those in the recruiting pool gain some understanding of the Forces, if they are to continue to support them.

As for security lapses in such programmes, if anyone isn't aware already of anything likely to be revealed in the general UK media they haven't been doing their jobs properly in following the specialist media and monitoring the net, including PPRUNE.

There is however a good point to be made as to the helpfulness of much PR exposure (as Scudulike points out). Common sense ought to alert PR personnel (from DPR/DCC downwards) as to who their media friends are, but in my experience this seldom happens, and the lure of TV (whether the coverage will be helpful or not) seems to be irresistable.

And finally, go through channels, because to do anything else is to invite trouble.

[RoyalRock]

SCUD

Never fear about those on 23, we have already ordered our copy!!! The ladies (and the RN members), check the post everyday for it.

As for what the Rocks are doing, well I could trot out the old cpar that we either do LLAD or operate outside the wire, but I doubt that would have any effect in this forum. So most sqns are either deployed, getting ready to be deployed, or have just returned from a deployment. Everyone else is either on GDT, at Halton, or at Cranditz ( I was there thursday night enjoying a throbbing night in the Bowl). However, this Rock is getting ready to natter to you lot on a professional basis!!

I standby for all incoming ventings of spleens!!!

[BEagle]

RR - how fortunate you are that your job is also your hobby...............

Still, at least what you do is allegedly regulated these days. It was different when I went through training before the rules were changed.......but in those days the 'Elephant cage' was up at your current location and the site was being used for a very different purpose!

Your 'ladies' will be disappointed, I fear, with the calendar.

[RoyalRock]

BEags you are right my job is my hobby and also my life. To that end I am currently distressd that Mrs Rock is beginning to believe that as I am not on a Regt sqn she can cease to wear the black leggings, white stillettos, and sqn sweatshirt that I insist upon. Obviously I will be organising a "realignment" week back at Honigton soon for her.

The Elephant cage, I saw some pics of that in the unit museum when I arrived here!! I use it as an HLS now.

[canberra]

picture the scene mid 80's northern q intercepts a bear. bloke in blister near the tail is holding up a magazine, said magazine is that months edition of the leuchars station mag! question is how on earth did they get hold of it? also on the subject of pr(which used to stand for photo recce) i watched an edition of blues and twos last night. it was all about c flight 22 sqn ,named all aircrew. was that really sensible?

[BEagle]

"The black leggings, white stilletos and sqn sweatshirt which you insist upon"? Dear me - all that time with the rubber truncheons and latex gloves has obviously affected your dress sense, I fear! Doesn't she worry about you dressing in that way?

The Elephant cage was an excellent landmark when I was learning to fly at an aerodrome just to the west; it was the turning point we used to avoid the busy RAE aerodrome nearby. 2500 ft in the overhead is as close as I wish to get to your place, thank you!

Although it has a good museum, according to the MoD website about your unit!

[Gainesy]

CV
These days Borya and Sasha are more likely to be working out how to avoid another nightstop at BZZ.:)

[RoyalRock]

BEagle I resent the implication that I use improper objects whilst carrying out my job. Let me assure you that neither I, nor any of my colleagues, would ever stoop so low as to use a latex glove!

As for 2500 ft in the overhead, that is still not quite high enough to defeat the super secret, aircrew snaffling, net-shooting device we use to ensure that all our kind invitations are positively acted on.

Seeing as you have been a guest and used our facilities any chance of a trip somewhere nice using yours? I'll bring beer!

[Autorev]

Canberra,
As the UK SAR Force has no deployment capability, I don't think the brave boys of 'C' Flt have too much to worry about. The closest they get to St Mawgan is during their sim checks.

RR,
You really do scare me because I can believe that you enjoy your job mmmmmm....now that really is a worry.