The DOD Principles of Information are contained in DOD Directive 5122.5, Change. 1. They chart the course for all DOD Public Affairs activities, and apply to the full continuum of day-to-day activities and operations. It is the commander's responsibility to ensure that all planning for military activities and operations efficiently and effectively achieve the goals set by these principles.

A.
Timely and accurate information will be made available so that the public, Congress, and the news media may assess and understand the facts about national security, defense strategy, and on-going joint and unilateral operations.
B.

Requests for information from organizations and private citizens will be answered in a timely manner. In carrying out this policy, the following principles of information apply:


(1) Information will be made fully available, consistent with statutory requirements, unless its release is precluded by current and valid security classification. The provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act will be complied with in both letter and spirit.

(2) A free flow of general and military information will be made available, without censorship or propaganda, to the men and women of the Armed Forces and their family members.

(3) Information will not be classified or otherwise withheld to protect the government from criticism or embarrassment.

(4) Information will be withheld only when disclosure would adversely affect national and operations security or threaten the safety or privacy of the men and women of the Armed Forces.

(5) The Department's obligation to provide the public with information on its major programs and operations may require detailed public affairs planning and coordination within the Department and with other government agencies. The sole purpose of such activity is to expedite the flow of information to the public; propaganda or publicity designed to sway or direct public opinion will not be included in Department of Defense public affairs programs.

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E3.l.I. Open and independent reporting shall be the principal means of coverage of U.S. military operations.

E3.1.2. Media pools (limited number of news media who represent a larger number of news media organizations for news gatherings and sharing of material during a specified activity), are not to serve as the standard means of covering U.S. military operations. However, they sometimes may provide the only means of early access to a military operation. In this case, media pools should be as large as possible and disbanded at the earliest opportunity (in 24 to 36 hours, when possible). The arrival of early-access media pools shall not cancel the principle of independent coverage for journalists already in the area.

E3.1.3. Even under conditions of open coverage, pools may be applicable for specific events, such as those at extremely remote locations or where space is limited.

E3.1.4. Journalists in a combat zone shall be credentialed by the U.S. military and shall be required to abide by a clear set of military security ground rules that protect U.S. Armed Forces and their operations. Violation of the ground rules may result in suspension of credentials and expulsion from the combat zone of the journalist involved. News organizations shall make their best efforts to assign experienced journalists to combat operations and to make them familiar with U.S. military operations.

E3.1.5. Journalists shall be provided access to all major military units. Special operations restrictions may limit access in some cases.

E3.1.6. Military PA officers should act as liaisons, but should not interfere with the reporting process.

E3.1.7. Under conditions of open coverage, field commanders should be instructed to permit journalists to ride on military vehicles and aircraft when possible. The military shall be responsible for the transportation of pools.

E3.1.8. Consistent with its capabilities, the military shall Supply PA officers with facilities to enable timely, secure, compatible transmission of pool material and shall make those facilities available, when possible, for filing independent coverage. If Government facilities are unavailable, journalists, as always, shall file by any other means available. The military shall not ban communications systems operated by news organizations, but electromagnetic operational security in battlefield situations may require limited restrictions on the use of such systems.

E3. 1.9. Those principles in paragraph E3. 1 .8.,above, shall apply as well to the operations of the standing DoD National Media Pool system.

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School of Journalism and Communication