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Methodology, Primary Documents, and Focus on Selected Agencies

For definitions, scoring criteria, and other information about how we graded federal agency media policies and practice, download the report methodology.

Links to existing media or communications policies are listed below by agency. Some policies are available on agency websites, while others were obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

• Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service)
  • DOI Manual 470 DM 1: Public Expression, General Policies and Procedures
  • DOI Manual 478 DM 1: Nonofficial Expression
• Department of Commerce (Census Bureau, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology)
  • Department Administrative Order 219-1, Subject: Public Communications
  • Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Regarding the DOC Public Communications Policy
  • NOAA: Message from the Undersecretary
  • Census: DOC policy (FOIA)
  • NIST: Email from Gail Porter (04/10/2007) regarding NIST trainings on the new DOC policy (FOIA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Clearance of Information Products Disseminated Outside CDC for Public Use
  • Guidelines for Ensuring the Quality of Information Disseminated to the Public
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
  • DSO #1450.2 Clearance Procedures for Providing Information to the Public
  • Email from Jacqueline Elder (01/10/2007) Subject: Reminder on Press Inquiries (FOIA)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • NRMRL: Communication with the media (FOIA)
  • Region 4: Media Relations Guidance (FOIA)
  • Region 6: Memorandum Subject: Procedures for Managing Relations with the Media (FOIA)
  • Region 8: Press Policy (FOIA)
  • Region 9: Standard Operating Procedures for Working With the Media (FOIA)
• National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
  • NASA Policy on the Release of Information to News and Information Media
  • Message from Administrator Griffin to Employees
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • NIH Policy Manual: 1184 - Scientific, Technical and Other Professional Information Presented by NIH Employees
  • Open Discourse: Email from Director (FOIA)
  • Open Discourses Reiterated: Email from Director (FOIA)
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
  • NRC Management Directives
  • Management Directive 5.5: Public Affairs Program
  • Management Directive 7.3: Participation in Professional Organizations
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Secretary's Order 08-2006 (03/10/2006), Subject: Department of Labor's Public Affairs Program (FOIA)
  • U.S. Department of Labor Manual Series, Chapter 500 - Public Affairs Program (revised 08/24/2004) (FOIA)
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  • USGS Manual, section 500.5: News Release and Media Relations Policy
  • USGS Manual, section 502.4: Fundamental Science Practices: Review, Approval, and Release of Information Products
  • USGS Manual, section 370.735.4: Nonofficial expression
  • USGS Manual, section 500.25: Scientific Integrity

Additional information is available for the following federal agencies:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

More Ways to Give 

Related Articles in

• Freedom to Speak? A Report Card on Federal Agency Media Policies
• Model Media Policy: UCS and Government Accountability Project