Further memorandum from the Ministry of
Defence on media issues (January 2004)
(Q1362-65) Media Operations Planning Timelines
MoD planning for the Media Operation to support
Op Telic started in earnest in late autumn 2002, as an adjunct
to the mainstream planning that was being conducted within the
Department and PJHQ. Prior to that, some contingency considerations
had been undertaken, but these were aimed only at looking at in-place
doctrine, procedures and arrangements to ensure that should planning
demands pick up that media-related activities could respond.
Detailed timelines for planning within DGCC
and PJHQ were as follows:
— Outline planning in support for
Defence Crisis Management Centre.
— Initial considerations of the
Media Ops capability requirement—personnel and equipment.
— Initial considerations of Green
Book arrangements.
— Participation in US-led Ex INTERNAL
LOOK, which included a media ops element.
— Further refinement of possible
in-theatre media arrangements.
— Further refinement of capability
requirements.
— Nomination of key individuals—Spokesmen
and Media Advisers.
— Comprehensive DGCC/PJHQ Media
Ops Stocktake.
— Agreed equipment acquisition
plan and funding.
— DGCC brief to Broadcast Editors
re Green Book arrangements and the embedding arrangements.
— Similar but separate brief to
Print Editors.
— DGCC/PJHQ briefing to Spokesmen
and Media Advisers.
— DGCC/D News visit to US DOD with
Mr Hoon
— DGCC agree operating procedures
for incidents with PJHQ.
— Refinement of Embedded War Correspondent
plan
— Detailed manning for Media Operations
confirmed
— DGCC Operational Procedures Rehearsal.
— War Correspondent numbers and
nominations finalised.
— War Correspondent training and
deployment to theatre.
— Press Office re-organised for
24/7 operation.
MINISTERIAL INVOLVEMENT
Ministers were briefed on planning as a whole,
throughout the planning process, and were kept abreast of the
main decisions and developments in the Media Operation but were
not involved in specific Media Operations planning.
NO 10 INVOLVEMENT
In terms of the preparation and planning of
the media operation there was no specific No 10 Press Office involvement,
although the usual, daily, No10 chaired inter-departmental media
coordination meeting took place throughout. In addition, during
the most intense phase there was a No 10 chaired weekly inter-departmental
overview meeting to discuss media issues amongst the Departments
concerned.
(Q1410) A note on the costs of the media operation
Planning for operations in Iraq envisaged the
deployment of upwards of 170 Media Operations Staff to engage
with the media, provide advice to Comds and act as spokespeople.
This was to be achieved through the augmentation of HQ Media Ops
staff and the formation of Press Information Centres. Activities
to be planned for were as follows:
— Media Operations planning.
— Engaging with and escorting the Media.
— Media briefings and conferences.
— Co-ordination and management of media
facilities.
— Passage of media related information
at rapid tempo
— External and Internal communications.
Some costs are inevitably impossible to extract
from overall expenditures, particularly as costs for media related
activities in theatre, where the bulk of the activity took place,
were not accounted for separately. The most significant extra
costs, imposed by the need to maintain effective and rapid response
to the evolving situation and meet the media's appetite for information,
came from the requirement to equip the Media Operations effort
for operations in Quatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and, eventually,
Iraq. It was also necessary to ensure that the Media Operations
Group was self-sufficient and capable of enduring through a sustained
campaign.
As the levels of equipment capability (specialist
and military) were insufficient to meet this requirement, further
UOR investment was necessary as follows:
| Deployable "Flyaway" kits ( IT/Comms)
| 257,000 |
| Office eqpt | 10,000
|
| Media Production eqpt (CCT, web) | 39,000
|
| AV suite of eqpt | 30,000
|
| Flightcases | 5,000
|
| Consumables | 50,000
|
| Total | 391,000
|
(Q1426) A list of embedded journalists and the units to
which they were allocated
Notes:
— This allocation was based on Green Book guidelines,
with the actual choices of names for each unit made by the representative
media bodies, not MOD.
— This list also includes broadcast technicians.
| Last Name | First Name | Organisation
| Unit |
| 1. Adams | Bruce |
Daily Mail | HCR |
| 2. Adrian | Stephen
| BBC | RAF Ali al Salem |
| 3. Agar | Terry |
ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 4. Allen | Vanessa
| PA | 2 CS Regt RLC |
| 5. Allen | Karen |
BBC | RAF Ali al Salem |
| 6. Andersson | Hilary
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 7. Arnold | Harry
| Daily Mirror | RAF Ali al Salem
|
| 8. Ashdown | Richard
| PA | 2 CS Regt RLC |
| 9. Baker | Dai |
Ch4 News | 7 PARA RHA |
| 10. Barker | Chris
| BBC Documentary | RAF |
| 11. Barkham | Patrick
| Times | RFA Argus |
| 12. Begg | Donald
| ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 13. Bendix | Kathryn
| BBC | Documentary RAF |
| 14. Bentham | Martin
| Sunday Telegraph | Scots DG
|
| 15. Boon | John |
BBC | JHC |
| 16. Bowden | David
| Sky | HQ 3 Cdo Bde |
| 17. Boyce | Russell
| Reuters | RAF Al Jaber |
| 18. Bremner | Juliet
| ITN | 1 RRF |
| 19. Brown | Ben |
BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 20. Bruce | Ian |
Glasgow Herald | 1 BW |
| 21. Buckmaster | Jonathan
| Daily Express | HMS OCEAN |
| 22. Bucktin | Chris
| News of the World | 23 Engr Regt
|
| 23. Butcher | Tim
| Daily Telegraph | HQ 3 Cdo Bde
|
| 24. Campbell | Eugene
| ITN | HMS ARK ROYAL |
| 25. Carling | Michael
| BBC | HMS MARLBOROUGH |
| 26. Cathcart | James
| BBC | HMS ARK ROYAL |
| 27. Catherwood | Andrea
| ITN | JHC |
| 28. Chamberlain | Gethin
| Scotsman | 1 BW |
| 29. Charles | Jonathan
| BBC | JHC |
| 30. Chung | Dan |
Guardian | 2 GS Regt RLC |
| 31. Conway | Darren
| BBC | 40 Cdo |
| 32. Cooke | Jeremy
| BBC | 3 PARA |
| 33. Cooper | Graham
| BBC Documentary | RAF |
| 34. Corp | Rachel
| ITN | 1 RMP |
| 35. Craven | Nick
| Daily Mail | 3 PARA |
| 36. Cubitt | Greig
| ITN | RAF Al Jaber |
| 37. Darling | Jim
| Freelance | Cdo Log |
| 38. Dewhurst | Ronnie
| Sky | 1 R IRISH |
| 39. Dillon | Martin
| Manchester E/News | 7 PARA RHA
|
| 40. Donnelly | Michael
| Sky | HQ 3 Cdo Bde |
| 41. Donnelly | Dick
| ITN | HQ 3 Cdo Bde |
| 42. Doyle | Martin
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 43. Dukes | Rob |
ITN | RFA Sir Bedivere |
| 44. Eaton | Richard
| Carlton | RAF Al Jaber |
| 45. Edwards | Richard
| Western Daily Press | 42 Cdo
|
| 46. Evans | Alan |
W Midlands Express/Star | 102 Log Bde
|
| 47. Ewart | Tim |
ITN | 1 RMP |
| 48. Feast | Robert
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 49. Ferguson | Susie
| BFBS | 1 RRF |
| 50. Fisher | Matthew
| BBC Documentary | RN |
| 51. Foster | Stephen
| BBC Documentary | RAF |
| 52. Franks | Tim |
BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 53. Fraser-Andrews | James
| Ipswich Evening Star | 3 Regt AAC
|
| 54. Gaisford | Richard
| GMTV | SCOTS DG |
| 55. Gillan | Audrey
| Guardian | HCR |
| 56. Gilmartin | Shaun
| Carlton | 70/30 Sqn RAF |
| 57. Goff | Jim |
Sixth Sense | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 58. Goodwin | Phillip
| BBC | HMS OCEAN |
| 59. Graff | Peter
| Reuters | HMS YORK |
| 60. Graham | Terry
| BFBS | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 61. Gray | Steven
| BBC Documentary | RN |
| 62. Grover | Paul
| Daily Telegraph | D Sqn QDG
|
| 63. Hallsworth | Neil
| CNN | 2 RTR |
| 64. Harding | Andrew
| BBC | HMS OCEAN |
| 65. Haresign | Anne
| BFBS | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 66. Hargreaves | Richard
| Portsmouth News | HMS MARLBOROUGH
|
| 67. Harman | Dave
| ITN | 42 Cdo |
| 68. Harris | Janet
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 69. Harris | Paul
| Observer | 2 CS Regt RLC |
| 70. Harrison | David
| Sunday Telegraph | HMS LIVERPOOL
|
| 71. Harrison | Kieth
| W Midlands Express/Star | 102 Log Bde
|
| 72. Harvey | Neil
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 73. Hearn | Mark |
BFBS | RFA Fort Victoria |
| 74. Hemmings | Tony
| ITN | 1 RRF |
| 75. Herbert | Andrew
| BBC | 3 PARA |
| 76. Heslop | Graham
| ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 77. Higgins | Rory
| BFBS | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 78. Houston | Simon
| Scot Daily Record | SCOTS DG
|
| 79. Hurd | Emma |
Sky | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 80. Hird | Steven
| Reuters | 29 Regt RA |
| 81. Ison | Chris |
PA | 1 PARA |
| 82. Jackson | Alistair
| Carlton | RAF Al Jaber |
| 83. Jones | Colin
| BBC | HMS ARK ROYAL |
| 84. Jones | Catherine
| Ch5 News | 3 RHA |
| 85. Jones | Ian |
Daily Telegraph | 3 Regt AAC |
| 86. Judd | Terri |
Independent | 3 Regt AAC |
| 87. Kretzschmar | Cordelia
| GMTV | 2 Bn REME |
| 88. Lawrence | Micky
| ITN | 102 Log Bde |
| 89. Lea | Michael
| Sun | RFA Argus |
| 90. Lewis | Geraldine
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 91. Low | Valentine
| Evening Standard | D Sqn QDG
|
| 92. Magee | Rob |
BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 93. Mangold | Abigail
| BBC Documentary | RAF |
| 94. McDonald | Peter
| ITN | HQ 3 Cdo Bde |
| 95. McMullen | Paul
| Sunday Express | RAF Al Jaber
|
| 96. Meszaros | Antonia
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 97. Milam | Greg |
Sky | 1 R IRISH |
| 98. Mills | John |
Western Daily Press | 42 Cdo |
| 99. Morris | Kylie
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 100. Mowat | Jonathan
| BBC Documentary | RM |
| 101. Muriel | Diana
| CNN | 2 RTR |
| 102. Myrie | Clive
| BBC | 40 Cdo |
| 103. Neely | Bill
| ITN | 42 Cdo |
| 104. Newton-Dunn | Tom
| Mirror | 40 Cdo |
| 105. Nicholls | Mark
| Eastern Daily Press | RAF Ali al Salem
|
| 106. Nicoletti | Tony
| Scot Daily Record | SCOTS DG
|
| 107. Oliver | Sarah
| Mail on Sunday | 1 R IRISH
|
| 108. Parker | Nick
| Sun | 3 RHA |
| 109. Payne | Stewart
| Daily Telegraph | RAF Ali al Salem
|
| 110. Petit | Martin
| GMTV | SCOTS DG |
| 111. Price | Matthew
| BBC | HMS ARK ROYAL |
| 112. Queally | Ray
| ITN | 1 PARA |
| 113. Reay-Smith | Phillip
| Ch4 News | 7 PARA RHA |
| 114. Rees | David
| Sky | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 115. Rex | Andy |
ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 116. Richards | Mark
| Daily Mail | 1 RRF |
| 117. Richards | Terry
| Sun | HMS OCEAN |
| 118. Ritson | Julie
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 119. Rivers | Dan
| ITN | RFA Sir Bedivere |
| 120. Roberts | Brian
| News of the World | 2 RTR |
| 121. Roy | Katie |
BFBS | RFA Fort Victoria |
| 122. Roy | Andrew
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 123. Sears | Neil
| Daily Mail | HMS YORK |
| 124. Sharrock | David
| Times | Cdo Log |
| 125. Simms | Andrew
| Soldier Magazine | 1 UK Div FPIC
|
| 126. Skelton | Rachael
| BBC Documentary | RN |
| 127. Stoddard | Tom
| Freelance | 539 ASRM |
| 128. Swift | Gregg
| Daily Express | 1 GS Regt RLC
|
| 129. Tanner | Stuart
| BBC Documentary | RM |
| 130. Taylor | Sean
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 131. Thompson | Andrew
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 132. Thompson | Paul
| Sun | RFA Sir Percivale |
| 133. Thompson | Alex
| ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 134. Thompson | Alistair
| Ch5 News | 3 RHA |
| 135. Tuft | Michael
| BBC Documentary | RN |
| 136. Vellacot | James
| Daily Mirror | 1 GS Regt RLC
|
| 137. Vince | Keith
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 138. Vincent | Geraint
| ITN | 1 PARA |
| 139. Walker | Simon
| Times | HQ 3 Cdo Bde |
| 140. Wall | David
| ITN | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 141. Wardman | Phillip
| Sky | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 142. Watson | Harvey
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 143. Watts | Timothy
| BBC Documentary | RN |
| 144. Wazir | Burhan
| Observer | 102 Log Bde |
| 145. Weeks | Romily
| ITN | 102 Log Bde |
| 146. Weston | Michael
| Soldier Magazine | 1 UK Div FPIC
|
| 147. Whitehead | Tom
| PA | 59 Indep Cdo RE |
| 148. Whitford | Steven
| BBC Documentary | Army |
| 149. Wilson | Jamie
| Guardian | HMS MARLBOROUGH
|
| 150. Wilson | Andrew
| Sky | 1 UK Div FPIC |
| 151. Wyatt | Caroline
| BBC | 1 UK Div FPIC |
|
