Rwanda

Taken on the way to Kigali while heading back to Canada. Vilaca loaned the camera as a prop.

In September 1994, the Commander of LFCA, Major-General Brian Vernon, was not particularly enamoured with the type of media coverage generated after the deployment of some of his troops to Rwanda. He called in Major Brian Hay, his Reserve Public Affair Advisor. Maj Hay reminded Gen Vernon of a plan that had been made in conjunction with the 2nd Field Ambulance from CFB Petawawa, who were deployed to Mareru, some 20km from the Congolese border. Early the Unit Information Officer on the ground, Capt Marc Walsh a colleague, had initiated the invitation. The agreed plan was to send an LFCA public affairs team to Rwanda to generate positive media coverage. MGen Vernon said two words, "Send them". With that and only three days notice, Roberts and camera-operator Corporal Frank Vilaca of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment were deployed. They were sent to produce a series of interactive television interviews, technically known as "double-enders" between Canadian soldiers of the 2Fd Amb and television networks and stations based in Ontario. Roberts marketed the concept to broadcasters as, "Goods on approval journalism". In a "Backgrounder" faxed to targeted media outlets, he noted that, "It is recognised if the elements of the story provided do not meet your (the broadcaster's) standard of objectivity, subjectivity, or technical quality, then the story would not be used." All but two broadcasters approached agreed to take part, and both of those did post visit interviews. One with CBC Evening News was over eight minutes long. This type of focused media relations was a first for the Canadian Armed Forces. After returning from Rwanda, Roberts was called by military public affairs (DGPA) in Ottawa. The officer asked him where to purchase the electronics that interfaced between the video camera and the satellite phone making the recording of double-ender interviews possible.

Four of the nine double-ender interviews conducted