DoD issues new guidelines for interacting with media Published July 14, 2010 By 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Department of Defense released new guidelines on "Interaction with the Media" July 2. "It is important that the news media have appropriate access to many aspects of DoD activities and operations," said Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, in a recent memorandum. Secretary Gates added, "We are obliged to ensure that the information provided to them is timely, accurate, credible, and consistent. We must strive to be as open, accessible, and transparent as possible." On the other hand, Secretary Gates is concerned that members of DoD have "grown lax" with the way they communicate information to outside media agencies. "We have far too many people talking to the media outside of [the proper] channels, sometimes providing information which is simply incorrect, out of proper context, unauthorized or uninformed," said the secretary of defense. The current DoD policy states that the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and designated representatives are the sole release authority for official DoD Information to the news media, and all media activities must be coordinated through appropriate public affairs channels. These new guidelines were established to reinforce the current policy, DoD Directive 5122.05. This policy is, according to Secretary Gates, all too often ignored. The additions to this policy are as follows: · Leaders of OSD components, military departments and combatant commands will coordinate directly or via designated representatives the release of official DoD information, which may have national or international implications, both internally and with OSD/PA. · OSD components, military departments and combatant commands will review their respective organizational staffing framework to assure those delegated command release authority have the experience, acumen and perspective necessary to responsibly fulfill the obligations of coordinating media engagements. · OSD components, military departments and combatant commands will work with OSD Legislative Affairs and OSD Public Affairs to ensure information of consequence provided to the Congress is synchronized with OSD Public Affairs as appropriate. · OSD Public Affairs will coordinate briefings for OSD components, military departments and combatant commands on the rules, regulations and responsibilities regarding the release of information to the public and the media. · OSD component heads, military department heads and combatant commanders will reinforce to their subordinates the importance of protecting classified information from public disclosure and the legal consequences for those who do not.