14 C.F.R. PART 1213—RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO NEWS AND INFORMATION MEDIA
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2473(a)(3) and NSDD–84, “Safeguarding National Security Information.”
Source: 52 FR 45936, Dec. 3, 1987, unless otherwise noted.
This part 1213 sets forth the policy governing the release of information in any form to news and information media. Not included is the release of scientific and technical information to scientific and technical journals and audiences. (a) Consistent with NASA statutory responsibility, NASA will “ * * * provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof, * * *” (b) Release of information concerning NASA activities and the results will be made promptly, factually and completely. Exceptions include that information whch may be exempt from disclosure under the “Freedom of Information Act” (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) (14 CFR part 1212). For classified DoD missions on the National Space Transportation System (NSTS), release of information concerning NASA activities will be restricted by the STS Security Classification Guide. In addition, information concerning the survivability/vulnerability of the NSTS may be classified for all NSTS operations. (c) NASA will respond promptly to queries from the information media and industry, and cooperate with contractors in their release of NASA related informational material including advertising. (d) NASA officials may participate in interviews and speak for the Agency in areas of their assigned responsibility. (a) The Associate Administrator for Public Affairs is responsible for the development and overall administration of an integrated Agencywide communications program and determines whether the specific information is to be released. The Associate Administrator for Public Affairs will: (1) Direct and coordinate all Headquarters and agencywide public information activities. (2) Direct and coordinate all agencywide news-oriented audiovisual activities. (b) In accordance with §1213.104, the Public Affairs Officers assigned to Headquarters Program and Staff Offices are responsible for developing plans and coordinating all public information activities covering their respective programs at Headquarters and in the field. (c) In accordance with §1213.104, Directors of Field Installations, through their Public Affairs Officers, are responsible for initiating and obtaining concurrences for information programs and public releases issued by their respective installation and component installations. (d) The requirements of this section do not apply to the Office of Inspector General (IG) regarding IG activities. [52 FR 45936, Dec. 3, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 66787, Dec. 26, 1991] (a) All Headquarters news releases will be issued by the Office of Public Affairs, Media Services Division. (b) Directors of Field Installations, through their Public Affairs Officer, may release information for which that Field Installation is the primary or sole source, i.e., launch, mission, and planetary encounter commentary; telephone recorded messages; status reports; and releases of local or regional interest. Release of information that has national significance will be coordinated with the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs. Material received from contractors prior to its public release may be reviewed for technical accuracy at the contracting Installation. (c) The requirements of this section do not apply to the Office of Inspector General regarding IG activities. [52 FR 45936, Dec. 3, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 66787, Dec. 26, 1991] (a) General. All organizational elements of NASA involved in preparing and issuing NASA news releases are responsible for proper coordination and obtaining concurrences and clearances prior to issuance of the news release. Such coordination will be accomplished through the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs, NASA Headquarters. (b) Headquarters-field. (1) The Headquarters Office of Public Affairs will release information after obtaining all necessary concurrences and clearances from the appropriate Program or other Headquarters Office. Field Installations will obtain clearances from the appropriate Institutional Program or other Headquarters Office. (2) Headquarters issuance of a news release bearing on a Field Installation will be coordinated with the Installation through the appropriate Institutional Program Office/Public Affairs Office, Associate Administrator for Public Affairs, or Director, Media Services Division. If Headquarters is the issuing Agency for a release for which the primary source is an Installation, the Office of Public Affairs will keep the Installation fully informed. (3) If the Office of Public Affairs changes, delays, or cancels a release proposed for issuance by a Field Installation, the Installation and the appropriate Institutional Program Office affected will be notified of the reasons for the action. (c) Field-other. A release originating in one field installation that involves the activities of another installation (including Headquarters) will not be issued until the concurrences of all installations and appropriate Institutional Program Offices concerned have been obtained. The originating installation is responsible for arranging a mutually acceptable release time. (d) Simultaneous release. Where a release is to be simultaneously issued, whether by Headquarters, a field installation, industry-NASA, or university-NASA, it will be so stated on the news release. Simultaneous release will be coordinated by the Headquarters Director, Media Services Division. (e) Date lines. Out-of-town date lines will not be used on releases issued by Headquarters except in the case of an advance release of a speech text intended for regional distribution in the area where the speech will be delivered. (f) Exchange of releases. All Agency releases will be exchanged electronically with all field installations by the Headquarters newsroom. The full text of important releases, regardless of source, which may generate unusual interest and queries shall be sent by electronic mail or telephoned to all interested installations and Headquarters in advance of release time to enable public information officers to respond intelligently to queries arising locally. (g) Exchange of communication activities. All field installations will exchange information with the appropriate Headquarters Public Affairs Officers concerning news events and releases. Immediate notification will be made to Headquarters and any impacted installation of events or situations that will make news, particularly of a negative nature. (h) The requirements of this section do not apply to the Office of Inspector General regarding IG activities. [52 FR 45936, Dec. 3, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 66787, Dec. 26, 1991] (a) NASA personnel will respond promptly to requests to media representatives for information or interviews. (b) Normally, requests for interviews with NASA officials will be made through the appropriate Public Affairs Office. However, journalists will have direct access to those NASA officials they seek to interview. (c) Information given to the press will be on an “on-the-record” basis only and attributable to the person(s) making the remarks. Any NASA employee providing material to the press will identify himself/herself as the source. (d) Any attempt by news media representatives to obtain classified information will be reported through the Headquarters Office of Public Affairs or Installation Public Affairs Office to the Installation Security Office. The knowing disclosure of classified information to unauthorized individuals will be cause for disciplinary actions against the NASA employee involved. (e) Public information volunteered by a NASA official will not be considered exclusive to any one media source and will be made available to other sources, if requested. (f) For a DoD classified operation, all inquiries concerning this activity will be responded to by the designated DoD officer. [52 FR 45936, Dec. 3, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 66788, Dec. 26, 1991] (a) NASA's central repository of audiovisual material will be available to the information media and to all NASA installations. (b) Field installations will provide NASA Headquarters with: (1) Selected prints and original or duplicate negatives of news-oriented photographs generated within their respective areas. (2) Selected color motion picture footage (prints) which, in the opinion of the installation, would be appropriate for use as features in programs. (3) Audio and/or video tapes of significant news developments and other events of historical or public information interest. (4) For DoD classified operations, all audiovisual material of or related to the classified operation will be reviewed and deemed releasable by the designated DoD officer. (a) All releases of information involving NASA activities or views affecting another country or an international organization require prior coordination with the International Relations Division, Office of External Relations, through the Public Affairs Officer assigned to that division. (b) NASA field installations and Headquarters offices will report all visits proposed by representatives of foreign news media to the Public Affairs Officer for the International Relations Division, NASA Headquarters. (c) Safeguards intended to control access to classified information, materials, or facilities and provisions to protect the NSTS as a national resource will not be diminished in providing assistance to foreign or U.S. news representatives. It is the responsibility of each Public Affairs Officer to implement the STS Security Classification Guide for each DoD classified operation on the NSTS. Guidance for this implementation will be provided in the joint NASA and USAF Public Affairs plan for each mission. In addition, each NASA installation involved in the NSTS will have information concerning the protection of the NSTS as a national resource. This category of information, including NSTS survivability/vulnerability data, may be classified. Therefore, all questions regarding security classification will be resolved by the appropriate security classification officer at any NASA installation or by the designated DoD security officer for DoD classified information.
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 1213—RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO NEWS AND INFORMATION MEDIA
Section Contents
§ 1213.100 Scope.
§ 1213.101 Policy.
§ 1213.102 Responsibility.
§ 1213.103 Procedures for issuance of news releases.
§ 1213.104 Procedures for news release coordination and concurrence.
§ 1213.105 Interviews.
§ 1213.106 Audiovisual material.
§ 1213.107 International news releases.
§ 1213.108 Security.
§ 1213.100 Scope.
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§ 1213.101 Policy.
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§ 1213.102 Responsibility.
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§ 1213.103 Procedures for issuance of news releases.
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§ 1213.104 Procedures for news release coordination and concurrence.
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§ 1213.105 Interviews.
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§ 1213.106 Audiovisual material.
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§ 1213.107 International news releases.
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§ 1213.108 Security.
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