Feral cats can be nasty. Every once in a while you’ll see them sprinting from dumpster to dumpster, they live out in the wild, they’re street smart and potentially dangerous. In my former life as an Infantryman, I remember thinking of the media as if they were feral cats.
They definitely aren’t feral cats but I was right, in a way. The media know more than you do. They are often unconstrained, wily and smart. Media members have a better and less bias J2. You know, for sure, they have a better historian.
As an American, this makes me very happy. The free press is essential to a functioning democracy.
War Story – back in 2003 in Afghanistan, Greg Palkot came to our operating base. He was doing stand ups right outside of our tent. He lived with us on and off for a few weeks. He fucking knew everything about Afghanistan, Pakistan and the big picture. While I was only thinking about the few border checkpoints along the Pakistani border. He was a smart dude.
Fast forward a few years later and I drank a beer with a local reporter in Fayetteville, Drew Brooks. This guy was eager, energetic, interested in what I wanted to talk about. His senior, Henry Cunnigham was a legend who again, knew everything about Fort Bragg, Fayetteville and the all of the associated units.
You should establish relationships with nearly every media person that has the potential to report on stuff related to your organization. You’ll grow to like most of these people. You should talk over the topics of the day and stay in touch. Maybe occasionally share a few beers.
In these relationships, trust is born. It is trust that enables a professional on or off the record exchange about a topic that effects your organization. Through these relationships you will also learn how to be better at your job, you’ll learn about trends and slants.
Summary – the media is your best friend.
Get to know the media in your area of operations. Despite their ability to spread disease, feral cats can also have a positive effect on their environment.
(For the record I don’t think the media are feral cats. It was just a funny and useful analogy.)
