However, do not lose sight of the need to tell the story
from the military perspective.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Make available fact sheets and verbal statements to
help news media understand equipment, personnel and
actions of the command. Unit histories and biographies
of key commanders should also be available.
BULLETIN BOARDS
Copies of news and feature stories released by the
CIB should be posted on bulletin boards in either the
conference room or the media working spaces. Devote
one section to recent releases and another to all previous
releases. If the number of releases exceeds available
bulletin board space, place the oldest releases in a
three-ring binder and keep it near the bulletin board.
Make at least one copy of each release available to each
news person present at the time of release. Maintain
extra copies of all releases for use when requested.
Number written releases and maintain them in a news
release file.
PHOTO BOARDS
Photo boards contain pictures taken by command
photographers and include captions. Copies of the prints
posted are available to news media at no cost and are
standard 5- by 7-inch or 4- by 5-inch formats. As with
written releases, number each photo and keep complete
documentation in the CIB photo release files.
AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT AND
MATERIALS
The CIB normally has suitable audiovisual
equipment and materials, preferably in the conference
room, so documentation of news conferences and
interviews may be obtained. Video and audio recording
systems are essential. Additionally, backup units in all
tape formats should be available. Where necessary,
platforms may be built to accommodate motion picture,
videotape recording equipment or an overhead projector
and a slide projector, preferably in the rear of the room.
These platforms should be large enough to allow mutual
use by CIB personnel and the media photographers.
The following are other audiovisual considerations:
l
l
l
Is the power source to the CIB sufficient to
handle the load required? If central power is
disrupted, is there a backup system available to
run cameras and other power equipment?
Is the area provided for briefers and interviewees
aesthetically pleasing and neat in appearance?
Are colors compatible? Are “busy” backgrounds
eliminated? Is lighting adequate? How will the
interviewee appear on film or videotape and is
this image compatible with the news event itself
and the military part in the event?
Is audiovisual equipment mobile enough to
permit command coverage of events outside the
CIB?
AFTER-ACTION REPORT
Learning Objective: Recognize the items included in a
CIB after-action report.
Complete an after-action report once the CIB has
ceased operations. Note the problem areas you
encountered during the incident or exercise and make
recommendations for improvements. You can include
an overall view of operations, specific areas of interest,
a sequence of events and a list of the media repre-
sentatives who called or visited the media center.
Use careful analysis and complete objectivity when
you sit down and write the CIB after-action report. There
is no doubt you noted obvious problem areas almost
immediately. What about the areas that worked as
advertised, but need the rough edges smoothed? You
can draft a comprehensive after-action report by going
back to the CIB establishment plan and evaluating it one
section at a time. You will have to put some time into
writing it, but your efforts will provide you with the
feedback required to improve future CIBs.
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