SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 1 SGTM 13: Media Relations

Slide 2  Peacekeeping and the news  Impacts of media reporting  Your mission’s PIO  How you can relate to news media  How you can manage an interview  Peacekeeping and the news  Impacts of media reporting  Your mission’s PIO  How you can relate to news media  How you can manage an interview

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 3  Giving the right kind of information to news media is a key to mission success

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 4  News media have their own focus on peace operations – some are “pro”, some are “con”, some impartial

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 5  Explain mission mandate and activities  Be a reliable source of information  Counter misinformation and propaganda  Explain mission mandate and activities  Be a reliable source of information  Counter misinformation and propaganda

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 6  The media focus on peacekeepers on and off the job  Bad conduct will be reported by the media  Good conduct will help maintain a positive public image  The media focus on peacekeepers on and off the job  Bad conduct will be reported by the media  Good conduct will help maintain a positive public image

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 7  News media work 24/7, often reporting in real time  News travels very quickly all over the world  News media work 24/7, often reporting in real time  News travels very quickly all over the world

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 8  You can help make good news and prevent negative reporting  Bad conduct can have negative effects on the mission, the UN, the peace process  You can help make good news and prevent negative reporting  Bad conduct can have negative effects on the mission, the UN, the peace process

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 9 Misconduct  Has immediate local and international impact  Damages image of United Nations and contingent around the world  Destroys trust of local population  Has immediate local and international impact  Damages image of United Nations and contingent around the world  Destroys trust of local population

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 10  Provides critical information to mission personnel and news media  Produces information for all media, local and international  Employs local journalists and other local staff  Works with military PIO  Provides critical information to mission personnel and news media  Produces information for all media, local and international  Employs local journalists and other local staff  Works with military PIO Public Information Office (PIO)

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 11 Guidelines  You need not talk to the media if you prefer  Be factual and positive  Speak with respect for local people  You need not talk to the media if you prefer  Be factual and positive  Speak with respect for local people

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 12 Guidelines  Don’t forget, you are an ambassador for the UN  Remember the name and organization of the reporter  Tell your PIO whom you spoke with and what was said  Don’t forget, you are an ambassador for the UN  Remember the name and organization of the reporter  Tell your PIO whom you spoke with and what was said

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 13 Don’t  Address questions that you are not authorized to answer  Give personal opinions about the situation of the peace process  Reveal information related to security matters or combattants  Favour one side over another  Address questions that you are not authorized to answer  Give personal opinions about the situation of the peace process  Reveal information related to security matters or combattants  Favour one side over another

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 14 Do  Know the main points about your mission  Refer to your superiors or PIO if you don’t know answers  Be polite and professional  Stick to the facts  Be brief and precise  Know the main points about your mission  Refer to your superiors or PIO if you don’t know answers  Be polite and professional  Stick to the facts  Be brief and precise

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 15  Your job is to support the mandate  The mandate is authorized by the Security Council  The mandate describes what the United Nations can do  You should remember the basic points  Refresh your knowledge by asking your PIO  Your job is to support the mandate  The mandate is authorized by the Security Council  The mandate describes what the United Nations can do  You should remember the basic points  Refresh your knowledge by asking your PIO

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 16  Do not comment on critical incidents  Refer questions to PIO  Do not comment on critical incidents  Refer questions to PIO

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 17  Look at the reporter, not the camera  Listen carefully to the question  Answer with facts  Be brief and simple  Behave naturally  Look at the reporter, not the camera  Listen carefully to the question  Answer with facts  Be brief and simple  Behave naturally

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 18 In an interview  Don’t say “no comment”  Don’t answer only “yes” or “no”  Don’t assume anything you say is “off the record”  Don’t offer personal opinions  Don’t discuss security issues  Don’t say “no comment”  Don’t answer only “yes” or “no”  Don’t assume anything you say is “off the record”  Don’t offer personal opinions  Don’t discuss security issues

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 19  What is your name?  Where are you from?  How old are you?  How long have you been here?  What is your name?  Where are you from?  How old are you?  How long have you been here?

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 20  Why are you here?  What do you do here?  Do you think that your presence is useful?  Why are you here?  What do you do here?  Do you think that your presence is useful?

SGTM 13: Media Relations Slide 21  Do you like being here?  How soon will we have peace?  Fighting is still going on. What do you think will happen?  Aren’t you afraid that things will get worse?  Do you like being here?  How soon will we have peace?  Fighting is still going on. What do you think will happen?  Aren’t you afraid that things will get worse?