Good media relations benefits the U.S. Civil Air
Patrol. When CAP helps the media with the job of gathering and reporting the
news, we are also helping communicate CAP's story to the public. Through
good media relations, CAP can strengthen community support and attract new
members. Providing this kind of assistance also discharges our
responsibility as a corporation funded by Congress to be accountable to the
public.
The foundation of good media relations is the
coordination, uniformity, accuracy and timeliness of the information
released. Consequently, all requests for information from the media should
be directed to the squadron, group, wing or region public affairs officer,
CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs or the squadron, group, wing or
region commander's designee in the absence of a PAO. CAP National
Headquarters Public Affairs provides assistance to all PAOs, as requested,
in handling media relations.
Most inquires by journalists will concern activities
that are a matter of public record and that CAP has an interest in
promoting. Sometimes, however, reporters will inquire about documents,
litigation or personnel matters. The squadron, group, wing or region PAO,
CAP National Headquarter Public Affairs or a squadron, group, wing or region
commander's designee, all of whom are trained to know how to handle these
inquiries, are the coordinating entity for responding to these type media
inquiries.
Regarding information requested by the media on
cadets, the squadron, group, wing or region PAO complies with federal laws
governing cadets' right to privacy. With a cadets' permission, almost any
information can be released.
However, without a cadet's permission, only the name,
rank, hometown and unit may be released.
If a media representative contacts individual members
with a request for an interview or for information, those members should
direct the representative to their respective unit PAO. In the event there
is a request for an interview with national-level leadership, CAP National
Headquarters Public Affairs can assist with the coordination and scheduling
of requested media interviews.
All news releases, public service announcements or
other statements to the media regarding CAP events, activities, programs, or
members should be released through the squadron, group, wing or region PAO
or CAP National Headquarter Public Affairs.
During emergency and disaster relief missions,
information should be released in a timely manner to the media through a
wing's mission information officer or designated mission base spokesperson.
During emergency or disaster relief missions that involve multiple wings and
multiple regions, information may also be disseminated to the media at the
CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs level.
CAP encourages the release of photos to the media to
tell the CAP story. CAP National Headquarters does not require a photo
release form to be signed by members who appear in a photo prior to its
release to the media if the photo being considered for release was taken in
a public setting, e.g., encampment, weekly squadron meeting, etc. The only
time a photo release form must be provided is when commercial use of a photo
is anticipated, e.g., publication in a book, merchandising, etc. For
mission-related photos, PAOs at all levels must consider the sensitivity of
the mission and the need to coordinate formal approval for release with the
lead agency.
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