My colleague David Pugliese is the dean of defence reporters. He blogs today about the completely collapsed public relations function within of the Department of National Defence. Like Pugliese, I, too, have found that DND's responsiveness to media requests — even routine requests, like, “how do you spell that guy's name …” — are almost never answered in time for the deadlines we give the intake officer at the national headquarters media line.
David writes how it took five months for DND to respond to one of his questions and the response essentially consisted of pointing him to a web link on DND's site.
For my part, if I can, I'll try to bypass DND HQ media relations and go straight to the public affairs officer attached to the base or unit. In my experience, the captains, majors and lieutenants staffing those jobs are polite, quick-to-respond, and eager to make sure we get what we need we need it.
David talks about a process for handling media requests that involves routing them through the PMO's communications shop. Now, I don't have direct knowledge of that that though I've heard it happens depending on the reporter and on the question. And those who suggested it was happening said that the idea/order originated with Sandra Buckler, who was Harper's communications director from shortly after his swearing-in until last month. The new director of communication (no 's' on that) is Kory Teneycke and, in the four weeks or so he's been on the job, he's demonstrated that he's taking a significantly different path in terms of control of the information disseminated by communications shops other than his own. I'm not sure Teneycke will insist DND run all media responses through his office; in fact, I rather he doubt he will.
Still, if some associated with the military want to blame the media [John Scott Cowan, who holds a doctorate in something or other and is the current president of a defence lobby group funded by Department of National Defence, comes to mind for one of the most ignorant and vitriolic attacks on my profession, many of whom are, in fact, risking life and limb in the world's hot spots precisely to gain a better understanding of what our military men and women are facing every day…. but don't get me started] when incomplete stories appear in the press, perhaps they ought to ask military officials first what they're doing about it.