President Barack's Obama's nominee for the Dept. of Defense's top public affairs position said in a Senate hearing this week that he would review directives and issue any necessary guidelines to ensure reporters seeking to embed with the military are not profiled.
Wilson sits before the committee on Dec. 17. |
"I don't believe in any system that rates reporters based on a perception that their reporting is positive or negative," said the nominee, Douglas Wilson, in response to committee's advanced policy questions. "In my view, we should never be a party to efforts to place so-called friendly reporters into embeds, while blocking so-called unfriendly reporters."
Wilson has been tapped by Obama to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, a post he served under as a deputy during the Clinton administration. He faced a relatively short round of questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 17, but was confronted with two key military PR blunders during the Bush administration.
The committee's chairman, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), raised the issue of the Pentagon's controversial PR effort established by the predecessor in the position Wilson seeks, which had retired military officials appear on TV news programs as well-informed surrogates without disclosing their briefings by the government.
Levin noted the issue is still under investigation but asked Wilson to comment.
"Access should be provided on an equal and balanced basis and if confirmed I do plan to review those policies," said Wilson, who has chaired Harvard University's Public Diplomacy Collaborative and is an ex-foreign service officer.
Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) asked Wilson what his role would be in deciding whether to release detainee abuse photos, to which Wilson acknowledged that he would be involved in the decision.
Wilson also said the Armed Forces radio and TV networks have a responsibility to report fair and accurate programs and information.
Shaheen speaks in support of Wilson. |
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who worked with Wilson on the staff of former Sen. Gary Hart in the early 1980s and on his 1984 presidential bid, introduced Wilson and spoke on his behalf.
She noted he handled strategic communications and PR for the Defense Dept. during the Clinton administration on issues like defense reform, base closures and NATO expansion.
"He's served throughout the U.S. government as a diplomat, legislative advisor, foreign policy expert and communications strategist," she said. "He will bring invaluable skills, deep knowledge, extraordinary poise and a strong character to a very important and challenging position at the Defense Department." |