Thread: Rude or not? Journalist records you without permission

Clinton,
I am in an occupation where my colleagues and I often find ourselves in the public glare. Matter of fact, you may well know some of my colleagues who are over there right now............
Best advice I can give you is to say politely to the journalist, I am not prepared to be interviewed, if you want an interview with me, get clearance from my CO, his/her name is.......... Should do the trick.
Nothing that can be taken out of context, shows that you aren't straight out being unco-operative, you may be in a position to talk later if the proper channels are followed. Shows that you are aware of the preferred process for media to follow and that you are in a position to make waves for them if they persist. The journalist will think that if you get annoyed, you are going to go up the chain of command which can end badly for them in regards to future access.
If the journo persists in this manner of obtaining footage, then their reputation will soon become well known to all your colleagues, (mainly cos you tell them) and they will find themselves unable to get material for their network and will come round in due course or be brought home by their network because they are not producing the goods.
My constraints in dealing with the media are as follows, I cannot comment on matters that are not my direct area of responsibility, I cannot comment on governmental policy, I cannot pre-empt a decision a Court may make and I cannot make comment that may prejudice a Court hearing nor can I comment on operational practices or policies.
Usually, on the small number of times I have been interviewed, I have talked with the journalist first and been given an idea of the sort of questions I can expect and in return, given the journalist an idea of what they can expect from me. Makes for a less "deer in the headlights" experience for you and gives the journalist material that is more useful to them. It also starts building up some degree of trust on both sides, something of much more value to the media than you.
The fact that you are a member of the armed forces does not automatically mean that your thoughts, comments, opinions etc become public property that can be recorded at the whim of any journalist. The fact that your living is provided for by the taxpayer is immaterial in regard to having dealings with the media.
It may put you at risk of greater scrutiny but does not mean that you no longer have the same rights as every other member of society, ie the right to not be interviewed, recorded on audio or video etc....