Should SAF SNCOs and Officers get media training?
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Anyone who has watched a defencewatch video will know that SAF SNCOs and officers, whilst adept at talking down to troops and generally shouting alot, seem to melt into bluberring, stuttering shades of their normal selves when they have a big black mike and cam shoved into their faces.
Look for eg at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB68p6fz3Wc
The 42 SAR CO, a major no less, is obviously in need of more media training. He very clearly suffers from nervousness and can only manage halting english. (edit: Just had another look, another person interviewed, the 'Commander' of 4 SAB is an LTC and he is worse than the Major)
(IMO the 3SG was great - he sounded confident and fluent)
Similarly, looking at the SAF Urban Ops video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yU2OgjmyDU), we see an OC ( a capt I think) and a PS (IIRC 1SG) being interviewed about SAF's urban Ops capability. They looked and sounded really bad. More importantly, they sounded unconvincing.
These videos have been put up on the net and are available for viewing by just about anyone with an internet conenction. They very clearly do not put the SAF in the best possible light. I think that there is much improvement to be made here.
I would suggest that OCC and PS course include a module on handling the media. If it already is being taught, then I have to say someone somewhere is not doing their jobs because from what I have seen these people need more coaching. Perhaps every battalion and above should have a media liaison Officer. He, being part of the unit, will know who is fit to appear before the camera and who isn't. He can also be in charge of arranging media training for those scheduled to appear on camera.
Some would of course argue that OCs should be taking on this role already but it is apparent that they are not very good at it - in the first video, only the 3SG appears fit to appear on camera. The CPT. commanding a Bionix II looks the part but I haven't heard him speak... Maybe a few more 'directives' should be let loose into the SAF email system to remind OCs..?
Thoughts?!
[PS: You can submit this to GEMS and claim all the credit but keep the thread updated on progress! - a portion of the prize money would be nice too
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The 3SG is an NSF, and probably heading to university as we speak. His lingo is not immersed as long as the OC or PS and not affected..
Hey I have anecdotal evidence to prove that our speech tend to be stunted while we wear the green uniform.
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Yes very clearly the colour green has a physiological effect on those exposed to it - an area ripe for research me thinks!Originally posted by LazerLordz:The 3SG is an NSF, and probably heading to university as we speak. His lingo is not immersed as long as the OC or PS and not affected..
Hey I have anecdotal evidence to prove that our speech tend to be stunted while we wear the green uniform. -
Sounds pretty reasonable for commanders to receive some basic training in public relations.
After all, I remember being told that if we were ever approached by the media for comments, we should refer them to more senior commanders.
Of course, the buck has to stop somewhere. The most senior commander on the scene may just be a 3SG. It just wouldn't do if a commander appears stuttering and unconvincing on the evening news. -
I think alot of it will boil down to circumstances. If a unit was hijacked by the media on exercise, then they could basically tell the media to F-off. Most interviews will have been arranged in advance. When I was overseas, I remember being told that I was not to speak to the media. Hence many of these issues are preventable and being preventable, they should not occur.Originally posted by fudgester:Sounds pretty reasonable for commanders to receive some basic training in public relations.
After all, I remember being told that if we were ever approached by the media for comments, we should refer them to more senior commanders.
Of course, the buck has to stop somewhere. The most senior commander on the scene may just be a 3SG. It just wouldn't do if a commander appears stuttering and unconvincing on the evening news. -
The media didn't ambush them at all. I think the policy currently is just to shove the KAH in front of the mike.Originally posted by scabstermooch:I think alot of it will boil down to circumstances. If a unit was hijacked by the media on exercise, then they could basically tell the media to F-off. Most interviews will have been arranged in advance. When I was overseas, I remember being told that I was not to speak to the media. Hence many of these issues are preventable and being preventable, they should not occur. -
I might be being a little thick here but what is 'KAH'Originally posted by LazerLordz:The media didn't ambush them at all. I think the policy currently is just to shove the KAH in front of the mike. 
I am quite sure that media interviews with SAF soldiers has to be pre-arranged. It only makes sense. Well, it makes sense if the head honchos actually thought about it and they are more intelligent than a dyslexic dog.
Or am I wrong?! 
Another GEMs idea perhaps... -
pardon me, but what does GEMS stand for ? ...
is this the latest incarnation of WITS ? .... -
Go the Extra Mile for Service. Supposed to encourage better service standards.Originally posted by Fatum:pardon me, but what does GEMS stand for ? ...
is this the latest incarnation of WITS ? ....
Then again I dont think it's helping very much. GEMS seems to stand for Go Eat My S hit. -
KAH-Key Appt Holder
And yes. The way some of these commanders speak to the media is disgraceful -
Oh Thx - TBH I am not sure if I have used the correct acronym. Maybe I meant WITs instead but GEMS came to my mind for some reason.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Go the Extra Mile for Service. Supposed to encourage better service standards.
Then again I dont think it's helping very much. GEMS seems to stand for Go Eat My S hit. -
Ok Thx. Anyone knows if media training is currently already taught in OCS, PS course or b4 interviews?Originally posted by Hellraiza:KAH-Key Appt Holder
And yes. The way some of these commanders speak to the media is disgraceful -
sorlee ah ppl, my english not good.. paiseh if I embarass you all..next time I ask the clerk to say for me..
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Good that you know. You are not the acceptable face of the mordern SAF understand? Let your subordinates do the talking - you concentrate on indenting rations.Originally posted by CSM:sorlee ah ppl, my english not good.. paiseh if I embarass you all..next time I ask the clerk to say for me.. -
MPs and RPs are taught basic media relations in their course since they will be handling civilians most of the time during the course of their work.
when i was in provost, a encik chatted with us about how to handle the media. for example never ever say u don't know during interview, if in doubt refer to your commanders.
but the truth is, before the actual interview or recording, the person going to be interview would have already known roughly the script and what are the questions going to be asked. no reasons why he would screw up. -
Ya that is why I feel there should be media training - like how to deal with nervousness, how to present yourself, how to speak, pauses, etc.Originally posted by Gordonator:MPs and RPs are taught basic media relations in their course since they will be handling civilians most of the time during the course of their work.
when i was in provost, a encik chatted with us about how to handle the media. for example never ever say u don't know during interview, if in doubt refer to your commanders.
but the truth is, before the actual interview or recording, the person going to be interview would have already known roughly the script and what are the questions going to be asked. no reasons why he would screw up.
I think the media-handling thing you are talking about is almost certainly a different animal altogether. That is probably more like a things to do and things not to do checklist kinda thing.
I did KINS ans was given a short briefing on that too - they issued us with a card on what not to do and what to do when approached by the media.
Btw: I think the training must not be done by the SAF but by professional civvy firms. -
They got to interview in Hokkien and everything will be OK.
But it does show 2 things : (1) that the interviewees are not familiar with their jobscope (2) they scared say classified information and kena charged. -
try this and it will be ok.
Media reporter : cb, wtf is this equipment ?
Major : knn, this solid thing is used to blow your ar...
you see, when you need to remove the everyday language so commonly used to describe the equipment, and punctuations such as cb and knn, you have to stutter to omit / censor some words. -
to be able to speak confidently, fluently and look presentable on screen, before the actual interview one should practise speaking in screen of the mirror. afterall, they should already know their lines since the scripts should have been delivered to them before hand. this is not even a live interview.
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no, they shld run more.
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i heard that CDF LG Ng Yat Chung isn't a good speaker himself as well.
strange, like seldom see him being interviewed on TV hor? -
Media should speak to Chief of Air Force. He is a President's Scholar. Educated at Oxford University. Great potential to be future Chief of Defence Force and Defence Minister.
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Education level doesn't guarantee that he will be great in front of the cameras. But then when he becomes minister I am sure he will be groomed to have the required skills.Originally posted by norm:Media should speak to Chief of Air Force. He is a President's Scholar. Educated at Oxford University. Great potential to be future Chief of Defence Force and Defence Minister. -
No lor ... some people think wearing a burberry cap worn at a jaunty angle = cool (when it is a scientific fact that it is most uncool).Originally posted by Gordonator:to be able to speak confidently, fluently and look presentable on screen, before the actual interview one should practise speaking in screen of the mirror. afterall, they should already know their lines since the scripts should have been delivered to them before hand. this is not even a live interview.
Also, it is not a simple matter of memorizing and practicing in front of a mirror - most people will come out sounding like they are chanting the scriptures...
Coaching on tone, appropriate pauses, grooming (like - just guessing - maybe you should not wear shirts with very narrow stripes - bloody annoying effect on screen), what to do with your hands, etc. -
teach but no practice will be the same....
some part in ROE have this on what to say and not to say to the media. it for those in the front.
as for peace time media cover... mindef should get those PRO to do the job, leave the soldier alone.