US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

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Lesson 2, Learning Event 4Most PAOs review all copy before it goes to the commander or thetypesetter. Remember that the PAO has access to information andsituations about which his staff may be unaware. He may "kill" astory based on that information. Although this can be frustrating,it may happen from time to time. Good PAOs don't abuse thisauthority. They are committed to "providing a free flow of generalnews and information" to the Army community.While commanders and PAOs may be considered owners and executiveeditors of Army newspapers, the editor fills the sameresponsibilities as his civilian counterparts. Editors determinethe content of their newspapers, they critique the writing style oftheir writers, they evaluate stories for completeness, accuracy andnews value, and they determine if one writer has taken the bestapproach to his assignment.The day-in, day-out work of preparing a newspaper is usuallyhandled by a "managing editor" who may be a mid-level NCO, a DAcivilian or the command information officer from the public affairsshop. This individual is assisted by one or more reporters andsub-editors, depending on the size of the newspaper.It is the editor's job to tighten up writing, to eliminateredundancy, to increase clarity, and to ensure accuracy. No writerof any rank or experience should expect to escape the editor'spencil. Everyone can benefit from copyediting. Writers mustcopyedit their own material and editors must also copyedit the samearticles. Even editors should have someone else copyedit their ownwriting.MILITARY TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL DUTIESCharge or quarters, headcount, guard duty, reaction platoons,promotion boards, company morale councils, and NBC team duties areonly some of the additional duties expected of soldiers. Someeditors may be exempted from these duties by commanders; otherswill not. It would be difficult to justify exempting other Armyjournalists on a continuing basis.There may be ceremonies when the entire company is to standinspection and pass in review. The PAO has great justification forasking the commander to exempt his Army journalists from theceremony because they will be otherwise15

Lesson 2, Learning Event 4involved in the ceremony. Keep requests for exemption to duty at aminimum and have adequate functional justification prepared whenyou make these requests.Military journalists should never neglect nor attempt to get out ofmilitary training. Requests may be made to delay training when itinterrupts deadlines and pasteup/proofreading requirements, buttraining must be made up.A thorough understanding of common soldiering tasks is essential,not only so journalists can pass the Common Task Tests, but becausethey are soldiers first.Military journalists, in time of conflict, may find themselvestraveling throughout their command's area of operations writingabout the soldiers and units in the command. They will spend a lotof time away from the direct supervision and control of editors andsenior noncommissioned officers. They must know how to use acompass, read a map, dig defensive positions, use camouflage andreact to NBC hazards.These same journalists may be used to escort news media and must beable to get them where they need to be. They also need to know howto protect the civilian media. Journalists should be among themost thoroughly trained, most physically fit soldiers in thecommand. More and more, as divisions become increasingly light,the journalist must be able to keep up with the physical rigors ofthe soldiers he reports on.Don't ignore military training.16

Lesson 2, Learning Event 4involved in the ceremony. Keep requests for exemption to duty at aminimum and have adequate functional justification prepared whenyou make these requests.Military journalists should never neglect nor attempt to get out ofmilitary training. Requests may be made to delay training when itinterrupts deadlines and pasteup/proofreading requirements, buttraining must be made up.A thorough understanding of common soldiering tasks is essential,not only so journalists can pass the Common Task Tests, but becausethey are soldiers first.Military journalists, in time of conflict, may find themselvestraveling throughout their command's area of operations writingabout the soldiers and units in the command. They will spend a lotof time away from the direct supervision and control of editors andsenior noncommissioned officers. They must know how to use acompass, read a map, dig defensive positions, use camouflage andreact to NBC hazards.These same journalists may be used to escort news media and must beable to get them where they need to be. They also need to know howto protect the civilian media. <strong>Journalist</strong>s should be among themost thoroughly trained, most physically fit soldiers in thecommand. More and more, as divisions become increasingly light,the journalist must be able to keep up with the physical rigors ofthe soldiers he reports on.Don't ignore military training.16

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