Photo By Sgt. Emily Greene | Katy Clark of Public Radio International speaks with the Joint Task Force Guantanamo's...... read more read more
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Joint Task Force Guantanamo has been at the forefront of an intense debate about foreign policy since opening in 2002. If you turn on any major news network, it is not uncommon to hear something being mentioned about the detention facility.
So how does all this information that ends up in the news make it there in the first place? The job of providing clear, accurate and timely information to the media concerning JTF Guantanamo falls on the media relations section of the public affairs directorate.
The media relations team makes sure news outlets from around the world have the opportunity to see for themselves the task force's mission in action. They ensure outlets are vetted and coordinate all logistics for media prior to their arrival on island, along with escorting media while they are on island.
"The media relations team is responsible for escorting the media through the camps, JTF facilities, and in and out of interviews with [JTF Guantanamo], Joint Detention Group and Joint Medical Group's senior leadership," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Veshannah Lovelace, media relations non-commissioned officer-in-charge.
In 2009, the group facilitated more than 80 different media tours ranging from newspaper organizations such as the Associated Press to broadcast outlets including British Broadcasting Corporation, whose news stories are viewed by millions of people around the world.
"Our mission directly supports the [task force's] transparency mission," Lovelace added. "We bring the media down here to see firsthand the conditions of detention here at Guantanamo.".
It is that transparency that takes some members of the media by surprise.
"There have been instances where the media realize what they see reported on televisions around the world does not reflect the environment and operations that really take place here," said Army 1st Lt. Cody Starken, media relations officer-in-charge.
A typical tour takes media through the detainee library, detainee hospital, and Camps 4, 5 and 6. It also includes interview opportunities with camp guards and senior JTF Guantanamo leadership.
"These interviews allow the media to get their information firsthand," Starken said. "It comes from the mouths of the Troopers who are working in the camps and have daily interaction with detainees. Media are able to get their information directly from the source."
Since the media relations team is with the media at all times while they are visiting, the team finds that they have to constantly maintain their awareness.
"My team members are consummate professionals," said Lovelace. "They have a tough job; they're always on the front lines of everyone's opinions both negative and positive. They have to always be 'on' and constantly have to maintain their conversation and demeanor, keeping things on a professional level."
Of course, keeping the media satisfied while they visit takes more than just casual conversation. It also involves trying to fulfill the numerous requests that the public affairs office handles on any given tour.
"One of the challenges that we face are the last-minute schedule changes that are beyond our control," Lovelace said. "We also strive to make each visit meaningful."
| Date Taken: | 01.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2010 16:45 |
| Story ID: | 44299 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 161 |
This work, Showing the JTF GTMO mission to the world, by SGT Andrew Hillegass, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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