Last modified Wed., January 10, 2007 - 05:00 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 11, 2007

A DAY IN THE LIFE: Mass communication specialists tell the Navy's stories

By DCFR Jeanette Morton, Staff Writer

MC2(AW) Regina Brown of the Public Affairs Center Detachment Mayport, prepares her camera for a studio appointment. Photo by MC1(AW) Melissa Robertson-Leake

Have you ever wondered who puts the base newspaper together or wondered where the information for Navy NewsStand comes from? One of the Navy's newest rates called mass communication specialists (MCs), are responsible for telling the Navy's stories to readers all over the world.

MCs serve everywhere in the Navy including ships, overseas and stateside commands reporting major news from their commands. The functions they serve are practically limitless. Unlike the other branches of the armed forces whose media personnel only specialize in one area such as writing or video photography, MCs are trained to write, edit, layout magazines and newspapers and shoot both video and still photography. Many MCs are also skilled broadcast journalists who can put together video packages for the Naval Media Center as well as run their own radio shows.

On June 29, 2006 a ceremony officially marked the merging of the journalist (JO), photographer's mate (PH), lithographer and illustrator/draftsman ratings into the MC rating.

MC2(AW) Regina Brown edits photos using Adobe Photoshop as part of her daily routine.

The conversion between the four rates brought different opinions from every one involved. "It's an opportunity to broaden my knowledge on all the rates, which allows me to expand my performance for the needs of the Navy," said MC1(AW) Melissa Robertson-Leake, who was a PH before the conversion.

MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck was a JO before the conversion. "The hardest part of the conversion for most people was learning how to write stories. As a JO, I already had experience writing, but there is still a lot I can learn from the other rates I merged with," explained Kruck.

Navy Chief of Information Rear Adm. T. McCreary spoke with Sailors and pinned the new rating badge on to eight Norfolk-area MCs after the conversion.

MC2(AW) Regina Brown interviews PSSA Hai Tran for a news story.

"I want the basic Mass Communication "A" School graduate to be able to write stories, take photographs, shoot video and deliver that information in multiple formats to multiple customers anywhere in the world in one hour," said McCreary, as he explained what is expected of an MC.

"The mass communication rating is about bringing skills together from all ratings in the MC field and making one big visual image," he added.