In general, however, news media prefer to use news as soon as it is received. Reporters take pride in bringing facts to light, not in withholding them. Never give them a  story  marked  Hold  For  Release  unless  you  have  a good  reason. News Release Numbering System For  quick  reference  and  orderly  filing,  a  release number  is  assigned  to  all  outgoing  stories.  There  are various  systems  of  assigning  release  numbers.  Most commands follow the practice of beginning a new series at the beginning of each year. The first release sent out in 1994, for example, would have a release number of 1-94. The second release would be 2-94, and so forth. All releases are numbered consecutively in this manner until the end of the year. Remember that release numbers are assigned to each story, not to each copy of a story. If one release is sent to 17 different media, all 17 copies should bear the same release number. NEWS ADVISORY A news advisory is an abbreviated form of a news release intended to get the news media to cover an event themselves.  The  news  advisory  is  normally  no  more than a page in length and includes a compact description of  the  event.  Pertinent  information,  such  as  the  date, time,  location,  specific  details  and  the  significance  of the event, also should be included. You may disseminate the news advisory in the same manner as a news release, using the format in figure 7-2. SPOT  NEWS  ANNOUNCEMENTS When  an  event  of  immediate  and  urgent  news interest   occurs   within   the   command,   such   as   an unscheduled   VIP   visit   or   an   accident   involving casualties,  all  available  and  properly  releasable  facts  are issued promptly and without waiting until a complete account is compiled. Spot news of this type is usually released  by  bulletin  or  in  memorandum  form.  However, if   circumstances   require,   it   may   be   read   over   the telephone. Spot news is always issued For Immediate Release. NEWS  CONFERENCES Whenever a news event is of great importance to the local  public  or  when  there  is  a  visit  by  a  prominent official who wishes to address the media, a command calls  a  news  conference  and  sends  invitations  to  all interested  media.  Information  is  released  at  a  news conference  through  a  senior  naval  officer  or  other  Navy spokesperson,  an  individual  involved  in  unclassified activity of public interest, an expert in some newsworthy project,  survivors  of  an  accident  or  perhaps  someone directly involved in some activity or event. Often, after an advance release goes out announcing the  intended  visit  of  a  VIP  or  some  other  event  of significance, the media requests a news conference. When time permits, prepare media information kits (covered  in  Chapter  16)  to  supplement  information made public at news conferences. Avoid,  if  possible,  requesting  media  to  submit questions  in  advance.  When  advance  questions  are desirable,  as  in  cases  where  highly  technical  answers would be required for some questions, correspondents should be advised of this. When written questions are volunteered,  detailed  answers  are  normally  prepared and  distributed  to  all  attending  media  representatives immediate y preceding the conference. A news conference can be abused. The only reason to call a news conference is to release information that cannot be covered adequately by a news release. A news conference  should  not  be  used  solely  as  a  prestige vehicle. It should be called only when there is something to say. Most media cannot spare the time and personnel for this type of coverage. The quickest way to alienate reporters is to make them cover an event in person when they could have covered it over the telephone. A news conference can do a lot for the Navy when it is used properly. News conferences establish public esteem, erase controversy and show that the Navy has nothing to hide. Reporters are given the opportunity to ask questions and get all the information they want. This often results in clearing up misunderstandings. Finally, it enables all media to get the same information at the same time. INTERVIEW An interview differs from a news conference in that it  is  usually  initiated  by  a  media  representative  and involves   communication   of   information   from   a responsible spokesperson to only one reporter. BACKGROUND  BRIEFINGS Background  briefings  differ  from  a  routine  news conference or interview only in their usual provisions that a precise source is not identified in the reporters’ stories. The content or source of a story written from a briefing  is  usually  attributed  to  a  “Navy  spokesperson,” 7-10