ACO/ACT - Public Affairs Handbook - 2020 i ACO/ACT - Public Affairs Handbook - 2020 Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction to Military Public Affairs in NATO ...................................... 1 1. Definition of Mil PA. ............................................................................................ 1 2. Mandate. ............................................................................................................ 1 3. Principles of Mil PA. ........................................................................................... 2 4. Functions of Mil PA. ........................................................................................... 3 5. Responsibilities. ................................................................................................. 4 6. Mil PA Relationship to Strategic Communication (StratCom) and other Information Functions .................................................................................................. 4 7. Mil PA Approaches. ............................................................................................ 5 8. Mil PA products. ................................................................................................. 6 9. Audiences .......................................................................................................... 7 10. PA Policies ......................................................................................................... 7 11. Key References for Mil PA ................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2 - Role of the (Chief) Public Affairs Officer ................................................. 9 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 9 2. Relationships ...................................................................................................... 9 3. (Chief) Public Affairs Officer Responsibilities ..................................................... 9 4. CPAO Responsibilities in Multi-national Environments .................................... 11 5. CPAO as Trainer .............................................................................................. 11 6. Unit Public Affairs Representatives (UPARs) ................................................... 12 Chapter 3 - Public Affairs Officer Planning and Staff Integration ........................... 13 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 13 2. Integration into the Command’s Planning Process ........................................... 13 3. Mil PA Planning Policy ..................................................................................... 13 4. Planning Cycle ................................................................................................. 14 5. Planning Hierarchy ........................................................................................... 15 6. Types of PA Planning ....................................................................................... 16 7. Higher and Subordinate HQ Coordination during the Planning Process .......... 16 8. Planning Considerations .................................................................................. 17 9. Examples ......................................................................................................... 18 Annex 3-A Public Affairs Staff Estimate ............................................................... 19 ii ACO/ACT - Public Affairs Handbook - 2020 Annex 3-B Military Planning Model for Public Affairs – Operational & Tactical Level (Generic Model) ............................................................................................ 22 Annex 3-C Military Planning Model for Public Affairs – Strategic Level ............... 24 Annex 3-D Guidance on drafting Public Affairs CONOPS/OPLAN/OPORD Annexes 27 Annex 3-E Public Affairs Plan and Example ........................................................ 36 Annex 3-F Public Affairs Guidance (PAG) Template ........................................... 44 Annex 3-G Visual Information and Imagery Planning .......................................... 46 Annex 3-H Resource Acquisition in NATO ........................................................... 50 Annex 3-I Issue and Crisis Management ............................................................. 59 Chapter 4 - Media Activities (Operations) ................................................................. 66 1. Introduction. ..................................................................................................... 66 2. Guidelines to PAO - Working with Media ......................................................... 66 3. Requests for Information .................................................................................. 67 4. Requests for Interviews .................................................................................... 68 5. Releasable Products ........................................................................................ 69 6. News Conferences ........................................................................................... 70 7. Background Interviews ..................................................................................... 71 8. OPSEC ............................................................................................................ 71 9. Media Embargoes ............................................................................................ 71 10. Media Registration ........................................................................................... 71 11. Media Escorts .................................................................................................. 73 12. Embedded media ............................................................................................. 74 13. Media Training ................................................................................................. 74 14. Working with Interpreters ................................................................................. 74 15. Establish NATO Media Information Centre (NMIC) .......................................... 74 Annex 4-A Establishing a NATO Media Information Centre................................. 75 Annex 4-B Response to Query Form ................................................................... 81 Annex 4-C Response to Query Log .................................................................... 82 Annex 4-D Media Registration and Reception Log .............................................. 83 Annex 4-E Example Theatre Media Tracking Report ........................................... 84 Annex 4-F Media Kit Guidelines .......................................................................... 85 Annex 4-G Recommended for Media Packing List .............................................. 86 Annex 4-H Media at Entry Control Points ........................................................... 87 iii ACO/ACT - Public Affairs Handbook - 2020 Annex 4-I Preparing for a News Conference ...................................................... 88 Annex 4-J News Release Checklist ..................................................................... 93 Annex 4-K News Release Example ..................................................................... 94 Annex 4-L Media Advisory Example .................................................................... 95 Annex 4-M Fact Sheet Example .......................................................................... 96 Annex 4-N Interview Planning Guide .................................................................. 98 Annex 4-O SME Interview Preparation Worksheet .............................................. 99 Annex 4-P NATO Military Spokesperson Training Debriefing Form .................. 100 Annex 4-Q Media Embedding Guidance to PAOs ............................................. 101 Annex 4-R Recommended Media Accommodation Guidelines ......................... 108 Annex 4-S Recommended Liability Waiver ........................................................ 115 Annex 4-T Example Journalist’s Biographic, Medical and Preference Statement 117 Annex 4-U Media Escort After-Action Report ..................................................... 120 Annex 4-V Example of Media Registration Form ............................................... 121 Chapter 5 - Internal Communications / Command Information............................. 122 1. Introduction. ................................................................................................... 122 2. Components ................................................................................................... 122 3. Integration ...................................................................................................... 123 4. PAO’s Role..................................................................................................... 123 5. Internal Communications Tools ...................................................................... 124 6. Writing Standards ........................................................................................... 125 7. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 125 Annex 5-A Feature Story Example which could appear in internal magazine ... 126 Chapter 6 - Outreach and Community Relations ...................................................