or contact officers who may answer the question with authority. If you run over the time limit, return the call and  explain  the  delay.  Always  keep  in  mind  that  the reporter   is   probably   working   against   a   rapidly approaching deadline. MEDIA INFORMATION KIT The  media  information  kit  is  one  way  to  provide visiting  reporters  with  valuable  background  information on your ship or station A typical media information kit contains the following materials: l l l l l l Command history Pertinent  facts  about  the  population  of  the command Welcome aboard booklet Biographies of senior officers Photographs Any   other   appropriate   information   that   will supplement the subject on which they intend to write Media  information  kits  can  seine  many  other  useful purposes. For example, you may give them to visiting dignitaries  or  guest  observers  on  fleet  exercises  and operations.   They   are   used   during   command   public visitations,   commissioning   ceremonies   and   other special occasions. Aboard ship they are forwarded with advance news releases to local editors in ports scheduled to be visited. American officials in foreign countries also need kits for publicity purposes when ships visit them. Use  standard-size  double-pocket  folders  to  assemble your media information kits. You can arrange material in several different ways, but we recommend placing the command history, photographs and biographies on the left side, and other amplifying information on the right side. You   should   review   information   kits   regularly, because the material in them becomes outdated. TOURS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the purpose of   tours   and   the   characteristics   and   skills required of the one conducting a tour. An  important  part  of  your  community  relations efforts  center  around  public  tours  of  the  command. Regardless  of  its  size,  your  command  will  generate  a great  amount  of  community  interest.  Therefore,  the public affairs office staff conducts tours so visitors can witness the Navy in action firsthand. Tours also carry great recruiting potential. In  general,  Navy  commands  honor  requests  for tours throughout the year, with certain days set aside for general public visitation, such as Navy Day and Armed Forces Day. (Note the use of the term  general  public visitation.  Never use “open house” when referring to public   tours   of   your   command   because   it   implies unlimited public access.) Additionally, you will receive tour requests from a wide variety of groups, including (but not limited to) the Boy and Girl Scouts, NJROTC units, veterans’ alumni organizations,  junior  high/high  school  classes  and  other community groups. Sandwiched between these groups are the occasional VIP and celebrity tours. The availability of your command to provide public tours is driven primarily by the following three factors: l The security conditions in force l The personnel available to conduct the tours l The operational commitments of the command Now  take  a  look  at  some  of  the  areas  you  must become familiar with before you conduct a tour. They are as follows: .   Appearance l  Command  knowledge l  Demeanor l   Patience l  Voice  projection c  Emergency  procedures APPEARANCE As you learned in Chapter 1, your appearance must be impeccable. Remember, you represent not only the command  but  the  U.S.  Navy.  Begin  evaluating  your appearance   by   first   examining   your   haircut,   and working your way down to the edge dressing on your shoes.  Replace  old,  worn-out  ribbons  and  name  tags. Prepare for a tour with the same intensity as if you were preparing for a major command personnel inspection. 16-16