One final thought — the best kind of interview is one that proceeds in a friendly, natural, informal way. There was a time when some news people thought little of   using   deception   or   impersonation   to   get   the information they wanted. Respectable newspapers and other media frown on these practices today. Additional information on interviews maybe found in Chapter 15 (Radio and Television Interviewing). AUTHORITY FOR RELEASING NAVY NEWS LEARNING  OBJECTIVE:  Identify  the  proper authority for the release of Navy news. When  information  previously  limited  to  a controlled number of persons is made available to the general public, it is said to be “released.” If this is done in formal written form, the document itself is termed a release, or a news release. Officers in command of all ships  and  stations,  as  well  as  senior  commands,  are authorized  to  release  certain  types  of  news  without requesting advance approval from higher authority. News of purely local interest is the first of this type. However,  there  are  certain  cautions.  All  officers  in command  are  responsible  for  keeping  CHINFO  and other  concerned  seniors  informed  of  all  events  and actions  when  any  possibility  exists  that  the  national news  media  may  become  interested.  There  are  also special procedures for handling news releases relating to members of Congress and civic officials. Spot news, including announcements or answers to queries of an emergency nature, where delay in issuing information would be harmful to the best interests of the Navy, is releasable without advanced approval of higher authority. Categories of news releases for which local release is  not  authorized,  without  prior  approval  of  higher authority, are covered in detail in  PA Regs. A partial list of these categories is included in figure 7-1. In some cases the PAO is authorized by the officer in  command  to  release  certain  news  items,  such  as “hometowners” and news of a purely routine nature. Release of information by any command is carried out by, or with, the assistance of the command PAO. Offices or divisions within a command cannot release information to the public without consulting the PAO. For  a  complete  study  on  the  proper  release  of information   through   channels   from   the   heads   of A. Accidents  and  Casualties 1. Civilians on board Navy ships, etc. 2. Foreign nationals in training with the Navy 3. Involving more than one service 4. Nuclear 5.  Names  and  photographs  of  casualties B. Biological Research, Chemical Warfare and  Psychological  Warfare  Programs C. Classified Information and Intelligence Activities D. Foreign National and Foreign Countries 1. Policy 2.  U.S.  foreign  defense  plans 3.  Operations  and  training  exercises E. Movements  of  Units 1. Between ports in the U.S. 2.   Overseas   areas F. New Weapons and Equipment 1.  Performance  or  capabilities 2.  Modifications  resulting  in  improvement G. Nuclear 1.  Nuclear  propulsion 2.  Nuclear  weapons  capability  of  U.S. forces 3.  Port  visits  of  nuclear-powered  ships 4.   SSB(N)   operations H. Personnel 1.   Movements   of 2.  Name  and  address  lists  (example: “FOUO”   directories) 3.  Reduction  in  personnel 4.   Statistics I. Scientific  Results  (unclassified) J. Submarine  Sightings K. Supply 1. Sources/quantities of strategic or critical supplies. 2.  Movements,  assembly  and  storage  of supplies/ materials L. Technical  Information M. Training of Specialized Units Figure  7-1.—Subjects  not  releasable  locally  (unless  approved  by higher  authority). 7-7