l command maintains direct contact, such as USS Los  Angeles  (SSN  688)  with  Los  Angeles, California.  In  the  case  of  a  namesake  ship program,  commands  should  receive  guidance from the appropriate NAVINFO. Hometown   news   feature   material   may   be provided  directly  to  any  news  media  making requests for information on specific individuals, subject  to  the  instructions  of  appropriate operational or other higher echelon commanders governing   media   relations.   Normally,   such requests  will  be  coordinated  with  the  appropriate service  headquarters  or  NAVINFO  before release. SURVEYS It is the policy of the FHTNC not to send unsolicited releases  to  the  media.  Therefore,  the  Center  periodically surveys all potential media clients in the United States and its territories. Those news media editors who want to receive hometown news releases must indicate this on the FHINC survey form. A   recent   media   survey   revealed   the   following statistics: l  96  percent  always  or  sometimes  use  award releases; 84 percent always use them. l  96  percent  always  or  sometimes  use  promotion releases; 77 percent always use them. l   93   percent   always   or   sometimes   use   school graduation  releases;  78  percent  always  use  them. l   72   percent   get   feedback   from   their   readers/ audience  about  releases;  98  percent  describe  that feedback as positive. STORY CATEGORIES LEARNING   OBJECTIVE:   Identify   the   most common hometown news story categories and the  appropriate  and  inappropriate  hometown ties. Hometown  news  stories  usually  fall  into  one  of three   categories   —   military   achievement,   personal achievement  or  participation  stories.  These  categories are explained in the following text. MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT Military   achievements   are   those   personal newsworthy   accomplishments   that   are   job   related. Consider the following examples: l l l l l l l l School  graduation  (NOTE:  To  avoid  embarrass- ment in case of early dismissal, the FHTNC does not process stories about individuals  reporting  to schools. Additionally, this category applies only to formal training four weeks in length or longer, such as “A” and “C” schools.) Personal award Advancement or promotion Qualification   (JOOD,   OOD,   EAWS,   ESWS, etc.) Honors earned in school or in training Reenlistment Lifesaving effort or rescue Retirement PERSONAL  ACHIEVEMENT Personal  achievements  are  those  personal  news- worthy   accomplishments   realized   during   off-duty hours. Consider the following examples: l College degree or high school diploma earned l  Award  received  from  the  Navy  League  of  the United States or other civic organization, but riot commercial firms PARTICIPATION   STORIES Participation  stories  result  from  an  individual’s being a part of his command’s activities. Consider the following   examples: .  Reporting  aboard .  Deployment  or  a  change  in  the  location  of  the unit l  Port  visit l Participation in an exercise or operation l Participation in evacuation operations l  Active  duty  for  training  (ACDUTRA) 17-3