As a service member of the United States Armed Forces, it is very important to know how to engage with the media. I have engaged with the media twice in the last few years. Vietnamese Radio Talk Native Tongue (TNT) interviewed me last month. I want to share my media experience with you and I hope this information will help you prepare better when you engage with the media in the future.
Vietnamese Radio Talk Native Tongue from California currently broadcasts in over 8 U.S. cities (San Diego, Boston, Atlanta, Kansas City, Oregon, Sacramento, Dallas, and Phoenix) and 3 cities in Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, and Brisbane). It also broadcasts over the internet and people in Vietnam can listen to this program.
Coordinating and preparing are the keys in preparation for the interview. How did I coordinate with the media? I coordinated with Vietnamese Radio TNT a week before the interview. I contacted and discussed the plan. For example, I wanted to know the date and time of the interview, the name of interviewer, how to contact him or her, how the radio system was going to set up for the interview, who will be the audience, and what else I needed to do to prepare for the interview. I also sent my background information as requested by radio TNT within 24 hours of the interview. I provided the following information to Radio TNT about my background: a) How long I have been in the US Army; b) my family information, such as how many family members are in my family by name and age; c) when I escaped from Vietnam; d) how long I spent in the refugee camp and where; e) my civilian education level and f) what school I am attending now and how long I will be attending this school.
Preparing for the interviewing is also important. How did I prepare for the interview? I contacted my interviewer two days before the interview. We discussed the interview plan including the timeline, my goals for the interview, questions the interviewer might ask me, questions the audience may ask me, the role of interviewer, and my role as the interviewee. After the interviewer and I agreed about the interviewing process, I prepared questions that the audience might ask me during the interview.
As the interviewee, you must prepare yourself for the interview. The interviewer may understand OPSEC rules and what he or she wants to ask and not want to ask. However, the audience may not know the rules. It is very important to keep OPSEC in mind during the interview. Thorough why understand what you can and can not discuss during the interview. This should be agreed upon before the interview starts.
The interview was executed according to the plan and was on time. The interviewer and I spent the first thirty-five minutes talking about my background and my family, the reason why I joined the Army, and what benefits people will receive if they join the Army. Then, the radio station allowed the audience to call in and ask me questions. Some people called in and asked about the ROTC programs and the Army’s benefits. Other people called in and just wanted to say thank you for my services. Overall, the audience was very proud of all the service members serving their country.
MAJ Do, Carlos T. from Fort Leavenworth, ILE Student Division.
* Note: “The views expressed in this are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.”
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