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Tuesday, October 04, 2005
CHINFO/FHTNC/USAFNS Debacle - #8 The Easiest & Simplest Solution
My first reaction to the ill informed decision that emanated from CHINFO was you "gotta be kiddin." I was promptly shown that they were very serious, when without further ado, they promptly cut of the distribution of press releases to USAFNS.com. So, over the intervening time, I have worked out a couple of solutions. One simple, and one fairly complex. I will cover the simple one this installment, and the more complicated one next installment. I tried unsuccessfully to get these solutions before eyes of the powers that be in CHINFO's office for two years. I can only assume that my contacts were afraid that they might anger their bosses. Or, they did reach them, and were ignored. I certainly did not act as if my solutions were secrets. With that having been said, here is a very simple solution.
__________________________________________________________________
Gunner's Simple Solution:
Add a block to the FHTNC Release Form - NAVSO 5724/1 (Rev. APR 2004) - the block should ask the question "Release to Internet Websites?" Accompanied by a check box indicating "Yes" if checked.
__________________________________________________________________
The latest revision of the form - April 2004 - is dated 10 months after the order to cease distribution of FHTNC's press releases to USAFNS.com. So, if CHINFO and/or his staff knew, they elected to ignore this solution. Below is the contents of the top section of the FHTNC Release form NAVSO 5724/1.
__________________________________________________________________
FLEET HOMETOWN NEWS RELEASE
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT -- AUTHORITY: 5 U.S.C. 301, and 14 U.S.C. 93f and 10 U.S.C. 8012 and 8034, and EO 9397. PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: To prepare news stories and news releases for distribution and publication by civilian news media to recognize the achievements of sea service members. SSN is used for casualty identification and will not be released. ROUTINE USES: Information may be disclosed to civilian news media representatives. Once published, information is considered "Public Domain." DISCLOSURE IS VOLUNTARY: Failure to provide the information may mean little or no public news release material can be produced, thus denying the individual public recognition for personal achievement.
___________________________________________________________________
1. I certify this information is correct. I have no objection to its publication. Forms not signed will not be processed. Print your First Name, MI, Last Name, and SSN. You must sign and date your form.
First Name:____..., MI:____, Last Name: ____..., SSN:____...
Signature:____..., Date Signed:____...,
Note Field Lengths Shorted for Clarity
______________________________________________________________
In fact, it is the "small print" and if I had scanned a copy of the document, you would not have been able to read it. However, you can see the complete form on CHINFO's website at:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/chinfo/fhtnc/57241.pdf
I have little hope that CHINFO would incorporate this simple solution into the release form, because that would require CHINFO to require newspapers to limit their publishing to hardcopy if the block wasn't checked. My local newspaper, the "New Bern Sun Journal" doesn't publish any of the releases on the internet. Because of the large military community, I don't think that they publish very many in their hardcopy newspaper either. See:http://www.newbernsunjournal.com/
A Short Editorial
With the above factual information having been covered, I will now editorialize a little. I can understand the frustration of a PR person when something like 9-11 occurs. They don't really fight in a war, they produce propaganda to bolster the morale of the troops and to demoralize the enemy. So, I am sure that they looked around for something to do to support the effort in Iraq. Unfortunately their "inside the beltway" attitudes of "I know what's best for you" and "don't do as I do, but do as I say" is at the root of this problem. I have three questions of the public:
__________________________________________________________________
Gunner's Simple Solution:
Add a block to the FHTNC Release Form - NAVSO 5724/1 (Rev. APR 2004) - the block should ask the question "Release to Internet Websites?" Accompanied by a check box indicating "Yes" if checked.
__________________________________________________________________
The latest revision of the form - April 2004 - is dated 10 months after the order to cease distribution of FHTNC's press releases to USAFNS.com. So, if CHINFO and/or his staff knew, they elected to ignore this solution. Below is the contents of the top section of the FHTNC Release form NAVSO 5724/1.
__________________________________________________________________
FLEET HOMETOWN NEWS RELEASE
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT -- AUTHORITY: 5 U.S.C. 301, and 14 U.S.C. 93f and 10 U.S.C. 8012 and 8034, and EO 9397. PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: To prepare news stories and news releases for distribution and publication by civilian news media to recognize the achievements of sea service members. SSN is used for casualty identification and will not be released. ROUTINE USES: Information may be disclosed to civilian news media representatives. Once published, information is considered "Public Domain." DISCLOSURE IS VOLUNTARY: Failure to provide the information may mean little or no public news release material can be produced, thus denying the individual public recognition for personal achievement.
___________________________________________________________________
1. I certify this information is correct. I have no objection to its publication. Forms not signed will not be processed. Print your First Name, MI, Last Name, and SSN. You must sign and date your form.
First Name:____..., MI:____, Last Name: ____..., SSN:____...
Signature:____..., Date Signed:____...,
Note Field Lengths Shorted for Clarity
______________________________________________________________
In fact, it is the "small print" and if I had scanned a copy of the document, you would not have been able to read it. However, you can see the complete form on CHINFO's website at:
I have little hope that CHINFO would incorporate this simple solution into the release form, because that would require CHINFO to require newspapers to limit their publishing to hardcopy if the block wasn't checked. My local newspaper, the "New Bern Sun Journal" doesn't publish any of the releases on the internet. Because of the large military community, I don't think that they publish very many in their hardcopy newspaper either. See:
A Short Editorial
With the above factual information having been covered, I will now editorialize a little. I can understand the frustration of a PR person when something like 9-11 occurs. They don't really fight in a war, they produce propaganda to bolster the morale of the troops and to demoralize the enemy. So, I am sure that they looked around for something to do to support the effort in Iraq. Unfortunately their "inside the beltway" attitudes of "I know what's best for you" and "don't do as I do, but do as I say" is at the root of this problem. I have three questions of the public:
- When our young men and women in uniform sign a document releasing information into the "Public Domain," shouldn't it be honored?
- Isn't it a shame that some of our servicemembers will die in service to our country and the only thing ever published about them in their lifetime is their obituary and not one word of their accomplishments?
- Does anyone really care except for me?
When you ask yourself these questions, please remember that FHTNC produces the releases for the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. The answer to question number two really bothers me way down where I really live.
~G: Stay Tuned - The other more complicated solution in the next installment.
Comments:
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News from Operation Cookie Drop
Contact: Michael Tatich
Cookie Drop Inc.
(619) 286-3283
opercookiedrop@aol.com
For Immediate Release:
Send Fresh Baked to the Troops At Affordable Prices
San Diego—A new website business makes it possible for parents, loved ones and friends to send a variety of fresh baked goods to troops serving overseas and in the United States.
Operationcookiedrop.us is an arm of a San Diego based bakery offering cookies, brownies, pound cakes and more for mailing to members of the armed forces serving in Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, Bosnia and other foreign countries as w Send Fresh Baked Goods to Our Troops at Affordable Prices
ell as those stationed in the U. S.
And prices for the goodies range more than 50% less than those charged by other on-line bakeries, according to Michael Tatich, president of Cookie Drop Inc. “We want to make them as affordable as possible so that most people can send a package of tasty treats to our fighting men and women.” As an example Operation Cookie Drop sells six dozen cookies for $23.95 as opposed to one dozen for $18.95 by another on-line baker.
Prices range from $18.95 for a two and half pound brownie heart and a dozen cookies to $24.95 for a mini-store pack containing assorted cookies, brownies, pound cake slices and krispie bars. All our packages are shipped priority mail.
Selections include eight types of cookies including the popular chocolate chip and peanut butter; five styles of brownies with a new flavor, chocolate chip mint; eight kinds of pound cakes featuring a brownie/pina collada combination and two krispie bar choices.
“We want people who don’t have the time to bake to be able to send a fresh baked taste of home to our fighting men and women,” Tatich said. “These kinds of packages are always well received by the troops,” he added, “and we hope our low prices will help let them know we are supporting them.”
The website is operationcookiedrop.us
-30-
Post a Comment
Contact: Michael Tatich
Cookie Drop Inc.
(619) 286-3283
opercookiedrop@aol.com
For Immediate Release:
Send Fresh Baked to the Troops At Affordable Prices
San Diego—A new website business makes it possible for parents, loved ones and friends to send a variety of fresh baked goods to troops serving overseas and in the United States.
Operationcookiedrop.us is an arm of a San Diego based bakery offering cookies, brownies, pound cakes and more for mailing to members of the armed forces serving in Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, Bosnia and other foreign countries as w Send Fresh Baked Goods to Our Troops at Affordable Prices
ell as those stationed in the U. S.
And prices for the goodies range more than 50% less than those charged by other on-line bakeries, according to Michael Tatich, president of Cookie Drop Inc. “We want to make them as affordable as possible so that most people can send a package of tasty treats to our fighting men and women.” As an example Operation Cookie Drop sells six dozen cookies for $23.95 as opposed to one dozen for $18.95 by another on-line baker.
Prices range from $18.95 for a two and half pound brownie heart and a dozen cookies to $24.95 for a mini-store pack containing assorted cookies, brownies, pound cake slices and krispie bars. All our packages are shipped priority mail.
Selections include eight types of cookies including the popular chocolate chip and peanut butter; five styles of brownies with a new flavor, chocolate chip mint; eight kinds of pound cakes featuring a brownie/pina collada combination and two krispie bar choices.
“We want people who don’t have the time to bake to be able to send a fresh baked taste of home to our fighting men and women,” Tatich said. “These kinds of packages are always well received by the troops,” he added, “and we hope our low prices will help let them know we are supporting them.”
The website is operationcookiedrop.us
-30-
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