32 C.F.R. PART 246—STARS AND STRIPES (S&S) NEWSPAPER AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Title 32 - National Defense
Authority: 10 U.S.C. 136.
Source: 59 FR 19137, Apr. 22, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
This part: (a) Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the S&S organizations owned by designated Unified Commands consistent with 32 CFR part 372. (b) Supersedes policies and procedures in 32 CFR part 247 about the S&S newspapers. (c) Authorizes the establishment, management, operation, and oversight of the Stars and Stripes, including the resale of commercial publications necessary to support the overall S&S mission, production, distribution authority, and business operations as mission-essential activities of the Department of Defense and the designated Unified Commands. (d) Designates the Secretary of the Army as the DoD Executive Agent for providing administrative and logistical support to the American Forces Information Service (AFIS), designated Unified Commands, and the S&S. (e) Authorizes the Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command, and the Commander in Chief (CINC), U.S. Pacific Command, to establish and maintain a S&S board of directors to address S&S business operations in their Unified Commands. This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments (including their National Guard and Reserve components), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Unified and Specified Commands, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, and the DoD Field Activities (hereafter referred to collectively as “the DoD Components”). The term “the Military Services,” as used herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps. (a) Adverse Conditions. Conditions that may adversely affect the survival of the newspapers such as troop drawdown, increase in troop population, currency fluctuations, inflation, armed conflict, national contingency deployment, and others. (b) S&S Commander/Publisher. The senior position in each S&S responsible for simultaneously performing dual functions. This military officer commands the S&S to which assigned, while also serving as the publisher of the Stars and Stripes produced by that organization. (c) S&S Management Action Group (MAG) and S&S Steering Committee. These are ad hoc joint committees between the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) [OASD (PA)] and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management and Personnel) [OASD (FM&P)] that address S&S personnel and business policies. The S&S MAG is chaired by the senior OASD (PA) AFIS member and includes members from the OASD (FM&P) and other DoD offices with the authority and expertise to address various S&S problems. The Director of the AFIS, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary, OASD (FM&P), serves as co-chairman of the S&S Steering Committee that addresses DoD-level S&S issues. Neither the DoD S&S Steering Committee, nor the S&S MAG, involve themselves in Stars and Stripes editorial policies. (d) S&S Ombudsman. A highly qualified journalist hired from outside the Department of Defense for a term of 3 years who independently advises the Unified Command CINCs, the S&S commander/publisher, the Stars and Stripes editor, the Director of the AFIS, and the Congress on matters of readership interest in the Stars and Stripes. (e) Stars and Stripes. The title of one, or both, depending on the context of usage, of the newspapers produced by the S&S. (f) Stars and Stripes Editor. The senior civilian position on the newspaper editorial staff of the S&S to which he or she is assigned. All mention of “the editor” in this part refers exclusively to this position, unless otherwise specified. (g) Stars and Stripes (S&S). The organizations that perform the administrative, editorial, and business operations, which include newspapers, bookstores, job-printing plants, etc. necessary to do their mission. It is DoD policy that: (a) The U.S. European Command and the U.S. Pacific Command are authorized to publish the Stars and Stripes and provide support to the S&S. The Unified Command component commanders and their public affairs staffs shall provide the Stars and Stripes editorial staffs the same help provided to commercial newspapers, in compliance with the principles governing the release of information to media in 32 CFR part 375. (b) Editorial policies and practices of the Stars and Stripes shall be in accordance with journalistic standards governing U.S. daily commercial newspapers of the highest quality, with emphasis on matters of interest to the Stars and Stripes readership. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, the DoD policy for the Stars and Stripes is that there shall be a free flow of news and information to its readership without news management or censorship. The calculated withholding of unfavorable news is prohibited. (c) The S&S are basically self-sustaining operations. Each S&S shall be administered in accordance with DoD Directive 1015.11 1 Copies may be obtained, at cost, from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. 2 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). 3 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). (d) The Stars and Stripes personnel procedures shall differ from commercial newspapers only because the S&S are U.S. Government organizations that are required to operate in accordance with the following: (1) 32 CFR part 40, other Federal laws and DoD Directives that affect all DoD employees, and the Manual for Courts Martial (MCM), 19844 4 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). (2) National security constraints prescribed by E.O. 12356 (47 FR 14874 and 15557, 3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p. 166). (3) Overseas status of forces agreements (SOFAs), where applicable. (e)(1) The only circumstances under which news or information that is not in the public domain may be directed to be withheld from publication in the Stars and Stripes by a Unified Command CINC are when such publication: (i) Involves disclosure of classified national security information. (ii) Would adversely affect national security. (iii) Clearly endangers the lives of U.S. personnel. (2) Those circumstances in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(iii) may not be construed to permit the calculated withholding of news unfavorable to the Department of Defense, the Military Services, or the U.S. Government. Only the Unified Command CINC may authorize withholding of news or information from the Stars and Stripes. When the CINC directs withholding of publication, the Unified Command shall immediately inform the ASD(PA) by telephone and then forward an immediate precedence, appropriately classified, message to the following: SECDEF Washington DC//OATSD-PA, with information copies to the Director, AFIS, and the Special Assistant for Public Affairs to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CINC may include the appropriate “AMEMBASSY” as an information addressee. (f) Sensitivities of host-nations shall not be a reason to withhold any story from publication in the Stars and Stripes. The Unified Command theater host-nation sensitivity lists prepared for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) shall not be used to restrict the content of the Stars and Stripes. If representatives of other governments show an interest in, or concern about, the content of the Stars and Stripes, they shall be informed that: (1) The Stars and Stripes does not represent the official position of the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense or the Unified Command. (2) The Stars and Stripes is an unofficial, abstracted collection of commercial news and opinion available to commercial newspapers in the United States, along with Stars and Stripes editorial staff-generated DoD, command, and local news and information. The Stars and Stripes provides this information to the members of the Department of Defense and their family members serving overseas, as do commercial daily newspapers that are published and sold throughout the United States in keeping with the principles of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (g) The Department of the Army shall be the DoD Executive Agency to provide APF and NAF support to the S&S. APFs shall be provided, when required by adverse conditions or special circumstances as defined in §246.3, by the Military Services, as agreed on through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) detailing the shared responsibilities, and approved by the OSD and the Unified Commands. (a) The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), under 32 CFR part 375, as the principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense for internal information policy and programs, including S&S matters, shall: (1) Provide policy and broad operational guidance to the Director of the AFIS. (2) Monitor and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the policies in §246.4, and procedures in §246.6. (b) The Director, American Forces Information Service, under 32 CFR part 372 shall: (1) Develop, issue, and oversee the implementation of policies and procedures for the Unified Commands and the Military Departments for the operation of the S&S. (2) Provide business and policy counsel on the mission performance and financial operations of the S&S. (3) Serve as the DoD point of contact with the Congressional Joint Committee on Printing (JCP) for S&S matters. (4) In coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the ATSD(PA), provide broad and overall planning guidelines to the Unified Commands for S&S wartime operations that involve more than one area of responsibility. (5) Chair, as required, at the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense level, or above, the steering committee providing guidance to the S&S MAG. (6) Select and employ the S&S Ombudsman. (c) The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall: (1) Nominate the most highly-qualified military personnel for positions in the S&S in accordance with appendix C to this part. (2) Enter into appropriate MOAs, as provided by the Unified Commanders and, as required by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), to provide APF and/or NAF support when required by adverse conditions as defined in §246.3(a). (d) The Secretary of the Army shall: (1) Provide administrative and logistic support, as the DoD Executive Agent, to the S&S organizations. (2) Support NAF and APF accounting and reporting procedures required by DoD Instruction 7000.125 5 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). (3) Designate the successor-in-interest to the S&S, as agreed upon by the applicable Unified Command and the Director of the AFIS. (e) The Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command, and the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, shall: (1) Authorize a Stars and Stripes newspaper, provide operational direction to the S&S commander publisher, and support the S&S throughout the Unified Command area of responsibility, consistent with each organization's status as a category B NAFI. (2) Provide Unified Command regulations and guidance, as needed, to carry out this part. (3) Establish procedures to resolve situations wherein a U.S. Ambassador (or, if so designated, the chief of mission) believes a specific issue in his or her nation of responsibility, not already in the public domain through other news sources, would violate national security or endanger the safety of American citizens, or other persons under their jurisdiction, if it were to be published in the Stars and Stripes. (4) Select the S&S commander/publisher and other military officers in S&S positions. (5) Aid the S&S commander/publisher to educate the Stars and Stripes editorial staff about the missions of their Unified Command and Military Service component commands. (6) Approve the selection of the Stars and Stripes editor. (7) Establish and maintain a S&S board of directors to address S&S business operations. (See appendix E to this part) (8) Establish and maintain Stars and Stripes readership forums, which may take many forms, to address Stars and Stripes matters of interest and S&S bookstore operations. Those forums are to provide community feedback to the S&S. This will enable the S&S commander/publisher and the Stars and Stripes editor to better understand and, thereby, better serve the interests and needs of the readers and bookstore customers. (9) At the discretion of the Unified Command CINC, provide for meetings between the S&S commander/publisher and the Stars and Stripes editor, the Unified Command public affairs office, and the Unified Command component commands, represented by their directors of public affairs, to discuss the performance of the Stars and Stripes and the performance of related public affairs operations. The Unified Commands, their component commands, and the S&S may invite any attendees they choose. Representatives from the AFIS may attend. Those meetings may not serve as editorial advisory boards. The Unified Command and component commands represent the principal source, and a prominent subject, of Stars and Stripes staff-generated news coverage. Consequently, any involvement or appearance of involvement by component command staffs in the Stars and Stripes editorial policy creates an unacceptable conflict of interest damaging to the editorial integrity and credibility of the Stars and Stripes. (10) Ensure that the S&S Commander/Publisher: (i) Assumes the duties and responsibilities of command, leadership, management, and training for the S&S. (ii) Executes DoD and Unified Command policy. (iii) Is responsible to the Unified Command CINC for S&S operations to include the newspaper publication and timely circulation, the operation of the S&S resale and job printing activities, and associated distribution systems in the relevant Unified Command area of responsibility. (iv) Provides planning and execution of initiatives to ensure support of U.S. Armed Forces during contingency operations and armed conflict. The S&S commander/publisher shall identify wartime and contingency S&S personnel asset requirements to the Unified Command CINC to fulfill the Unified Command force responsibilities during armed conflict. (v) Selects the Stars and Stripes editor. (vi) Approves, in coordination with the Stars and Stripes editor, military personnel selectees for the Stars and Stripes editorial staff. (See appendix C to this part) (vii) Provides a current status briefing and 2-year financial forecast to the Director of the AFIS at the annual AFIS S&S meeting. Provides support to the S&S board of directors as required in appendix E to this part. (viii) Conducts frequent independent readership surveys, in accordance with DoD Instruction 1100.136 6 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). (f) The Other Unified Commanders in Chief shall ensure that their deployment exercise, contingency, and war-time planning documents reflect the S&S transportation, funding or reimbursement, and in-theater distribution requirements, as applicable. Information copies of such planning documents or annexes shall be furnished to the following: (1) U.S. European Command (ATTN: Director, Public Affairs). (2) U.S. Pacific Command (ATTN: Director, Public Affairs). (3) The AFIS (ATTN: Assistant Director for Plans and Policy). (a) General. (1) Authority to establish or disestablish S&S operations is from the Secretary of Defense through the ATSD(PA) and the Director of the AFIS. The Unified Commands shall forward such requests to the Director of the AFIS, as required. (2) Classified information shall be protected in accordance with 32 CFR parts 159 and 159a. (3) The Stars and Stripes and the S&S business operations shall conform to applicable regulations and laws involving libel, copyright, U.S. Government printing and postal regulations, and DoD personnel policies and procedures. (4) With the concurrence of the Unified Command, the S&S is authorized direct communication with the Military Services on S&S personnel matters and with the Department of the Army on S&S financial matters. The S&S shall keep the Unified Command and the AFIS informed of all actions. (b) Management Review and Evaluation. (1) The Director of the AFIS provides business counsel, assistance, and policy oversight for the S&S. The Director of the AFIS shall meet annually with the Unified Command representatives, to include the S&S commander/publisher, and senior DoD officials who have S&S responsibilities, such as the S&S MAG. (2) The Director of the AFIS shall be assisted by a S&S MAG composed of senior representatives from the AFIS, the OASD(FM&P), and the other DoD offices with the authority and expertise to aid in solving S&S problems. As needed, the Director of the AFIS may organize a DoD steering committee to oversee and aid the S&S MAG to address specific concerns identified by the Director of the AFIS and the Unified Command CINCs. (3) In accordance with DoD Instruction 7600.67 7 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). 8 See footnote 1 to §246.4(c). The reporting requirements in §246.6, and appendix B to this part shall be submitted in accordance with DoD Instruction 7000.12, and 7600.6, unless specifically excepted by this part. A. General. The Stars and Strips (S&S) organizations shall contribute to the overall U.S. joint-defense mission overseas by providing news and information for the Armed Forces internal audiences serving in a Unified Command area of responsibility, or deployed in support of designated joint-Service exercises, contingency operations, or situations of armed conflict. That shall be done through the operation of a daily newspaper and resale activities of commercial publications (primarily through the S&S bookstores). B. Newspapers. The Stars and Stripes coverage of news and information makes possible the continued exercise of the responsibilities of citizenship by DoD personnel and their families overseas. The Stars and Stripes are to be published overseas during peacetime, contingency operations, and armed conflicts. They shall provide the same range of international, national, and regional news and opinion from commercial sources, as is provided by newspapers in the United States. Additionally, to better serve their readers, the Stars and Stripes shall pay special attention to news of local, host-country conditions relevant to their audiences. They shall provide, through their reporters and bureaus, news of local military communities within the theater and news of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Military Services, and theater operations not usually available to readers from outside commercial sources. The Stars and Stripes are to serve the interests of their overseas DoD readership as do prominent commercial daily newspapers throughout the United States. C. S&S Bookstores and Retail Operations. The S&S shall serve readers' needs for contemporary news and information by providing a broad selection of resale commercial publications of interest to their customers at the most reasonable prices, either directly in the S&S bookstores or through other authorized sales outlets at their discretion throughout the Unified Command designated geographic area. The S&S shall have the same authorities and rights for resale commercial publications that the military exchange services have for other nonsubsistence goods and services. D. S&S Job Shop Printing. The S&S are authorized to operate job shop printing, to include book publishing and/or printing, within the Unified Commands for U.S. military community newspapers, military organizations, nonappropriated fund (NAF) instrumentalities (NAFI), Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities, private organizations of interest and concern to the Department of Defense, as designated by 32 CFR part 212, DoD employees and their immediate families, and others designated by the Unified Command. E. War-Time Mission and Contingency Operations. The S&S shall provide the Stars and Stripes on a daily basis for transportation to, and distribution in, the designated area of operations, as requested and funded by the responsible Unified Command Commander-in-Chief (CINC), and supported by the respective Unified Command owning the S&S organization. The Unified Commands shall plan for required airlift on a timely basis and intratheater distribution of daily Stars and Stripes newspapers as part of their operational planning documents. Intratheater distribution and required airlift of the Stars and Stripes shall be the responsibility of the supported Unified Command CINC and respective component commands, who shall reimburse the S&S for nonresale issues on a per-issue basis. When deployed to an area of operations, the Stars and Stripes reporters shall operate in the same manner as commercial media representatives. The deployed Stars and Stripes reporters shall be eligible for participation in DoD and command-sponsored regional and local media pools. A. General Financial Operations. 1. For financial management purposes, the Unified Commands shall administer the Stars and Stripes (S&S), with policy oversight exercised by the Director of the American Forces Information Service (AFIS), as nonappropriated fund instrumentalities (NAFIs) in accordance with §246.4(c), except where procedures differ as defined in this part. The S&S shall report as prescribed in DoD Instruction 7000.12,1 1 Copies may be obtained, at cost, from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. a. The S&S shall be authorized nonappropriated fund (NAF) and appropriated fund (APF) support as category B NAFIs as provided under DoD Instruction 1015.6.2 2 See footnote 1 to A.1. of this appendix. b. The S&S shall be funded to the maximum extent possible through the sale and distribution of the newspaper, news magazines, books, periodicals, and similar products; job printing; authorized advertising revenues; and other authorized sources of revenue, as approved by the Department of Defense and the Congress. c. APF support shall be kept to a minimum, consistent with the S&S mission. 2. The Secretary of the Army shall be the DoD Executive Agent for APF and NAF support to the S&S. If adverse conditions occur, the other Military Services shall provide proportionate funding support through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) containing funding procedures coordinated with the affected Unified Commands and the AFIS. Copies of the agreement shall be provided to all concerned parties. 3. The Stars and Stripes and other S&S commercial resale publications may be made available within the Unified Command to other U.S. Government Agency members, and U.S. Government contractors, as approved by the Unified Command. 4. The S&S system of accounting and internal control shall conform with the requirements of DoD Instruction 7000.12, Army regulations on Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) activities and NAFIs, and NAF accounting policies and procedures, except as authorized by the S&S Comptroller's Manual to meet business and consolidation requirements. The S&S shall ensure that quarterly reports are furnished to the Unified Commands, the S&S Board of Directors, and the Director of the AFIS. B. Appropriated Funds. In addition to DoD Directive 1015.6, the S&S shall be authorized APF support: 1. As provided by the U.S. Army for direct funding support when adverse conditions make such funding necessary to ensure the survival of the newspaper without impairment of mission capability. The Secretary of the Army shall provide such funding when requested by the affected Unified Command Commander-in-Chief (CINC), through the Director of the AFIS. 2. For regional air transportation of the newspaper, overseas “transportation of things” as authorized to joint-Service NAFIs; and electronic, optical, or satellite transmission of the newspaper when long distances require these modes to ensure timely and economical delivery. 3. As required, to transport Stars and Stripes to officially designated “remote and isolated” locations. The Unified Commands may authorize DoD official postage to remote and isolated locations, if that action is required to ensure timely delivery. Each S&S shall annually review its mailing support to minimize APF expenditures. The U.S. postal regulations apply to the S&S. a. The S&S shall use in-house or other non-postal means of transportation to distribute the newspaper to areas that are not designated as remote and isolated. b. The S&S are authorized to use official managerial and administrative mail related exclusively to the business of the U.S. Government in accordance with DoD 4525.8–M,3 3 See footnote 1 to A.1. of this appendix. 4. For transportation of military personnel incident to mission-essential travel, required military training, participation in contingency operations, in military field exercises, such as “REFORGER” or “TEAM SPIRIT,” or to areas of armed conflict. 5. In times of armed conflict or national contingency deployment, as directed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for production and free distribution of the Stars and Stripes to forces as designated. The other Military Services shall reimburse the Department of the Army for services as authorized in the MOA. The Unified Commands shall endeavor to provide the Stars and Stripes and other S&S services for DoD personnel engaged in military operations, contingency operations, and exercises in the most expeditious manner possible as requested by the participating commands. The requesting Unified Command shall be responsible for distribution of the Stars and Stripes within its theater of operations. These services shall be provided on a reimbursable basis to the S&S. 6. In other agreements as made with the Unified Commands, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army as the DoD Executive Agency. C. Nonapproriated Funds. 1. So that the Department of the Army may perform its duties as the DoD Executive Agency, the S&S NAFS shall be invested in the Army's Banking and Investment Program and insured with the Army's Risk Management Insurance Program in accordance with DoD instruction 7000.12 and the implementing Army regulations. 2. Excess NAFs belonging to the S&S may be declared excess by the Unified Command CINC, upon the recommendation of the S&S board of directors, under the guidelines in section C.3. of this appendix. Disposition of excess NAFs shall be as directed by the Unified Command CINC. The S&S NAFs declared in excess in one theater may be allocated or loaned to the other Unified Command for S&S-related activities. 3. The S&S NAFs may be declared in excess only if the following conditions are met: a. The S&S working capital is at a level to continue prudent operations. b. The local national S&S employee retirement and severance accounts are fully funded. The other S&S employment agreements required by applicable NAF regulations must also be fully funded. c. Sufficient capital is available from an investment and/or contingency fund to complete all planned and projected capital expenditure projects, and to fulfill the other legitimate S&S business obligations. d. Additional sinking funds are available to sustain the S&S through foreseeable periods of financial crisis created by adverse conditions. The sinking fund level shall be determined by the S&S board of directors and recommended to the Unified Command CINC for approval. e. The retail price of the Stars and Stripes is at, or below, the most prevalent charge for similar U.S. newspapers. That shall be determined by the S&S board of directors and recommended to the Unified Command CINC for approval. The Director of the AFIS will be informed of any decision to raise the retail sales price of Stars and Stripes and will provide the Unified Command CINC an assessment of average commercial newspaper sales prices throughout the United States. The availability of the Stars and Stripes at reasonable cost to overseas personnel, commensurate with the retail sales price of comparable commercial newspapers throughout the United States, is a major quality-of-life consideration. A reasonable retail sales price is critical to ensure the greatest access for all overseas personnel and their family members to current print news and information so that they may remain informed U.S. citizens. f. The S&S books, periodicals, magazines, and similar products are to be sold at no more than cover price and should be discounted to an appropriate level that still sustains full S&S operations, as determined by the S&S board of directors and recommended to the Unified Command CINC for approval. 4. Under adverse conditions, the S&S commander/publisher may apply for NAF support through the Unified Commands to the Director of the AFIS. Following approval by the Unified Command, the Director of the AFIS shall forward the request to the Secretary of the Army for appropriate action. Such NAF requests must first be recommended by the S&S board of directors and approved by the Unified Command CINC. In these cases, the S&S NAFs in either Unified Command may be considered as the first source before forwarding a request to the Department of the Army. The Unified Commands may lend NAFs from one S&S to the other through an MOA. D. Bookstores and Related Resale Activities. 1. The S&S shall endeavor to provide the same selection of resale commercial publications that would be available in quality bookstores in the United States through its bookstores, or, at the discretion of the S&S management, other authorized sales outlets. The S&S has the same authorities and rights for resale and distribution of commercial publications that the military exchange services have on military installations for other nonsubsistence goods and services. The assortment of commercial books, periodicals, magazines, and similar products shall approximate publications commercially available in United States bookstore chains of similar size. Decisions on which publications to include shall be made by the S&S on the basis of marketability and service, not content. As an exception to the Army NAF procurement regulations, contracting authority limitations applicable to U.S. Army and joint-Service NAFIs do not apply to the S&S procurement of resale commercial publications. Limitations will be as recommended by the S&S board of directors and approved by the Unified Command. 2. The Unified Command CINC shall adjudicate publications resale issues within the theater that cannot be resolved by the S&S at the operating level. 3. Both S&S shall consolidate their wholesale purchases of commercial publications to the maximum extent, consistent with Unified Command distribution criteria, actual economies of scale, and cost-efficiencies. Consolidation initiatives shall be worked in concert with the Unified Commands, the AFIS, and the S&S board of directors. As recommended by the S&S board of directors and approved by the Unified Command CINC, the S&S bookstores shall offer discounts similar to commercial United States bookstore franchises. The offering of discounts should not endanger the financial viability of the S&S. 4. The S&S bookstores shall be audited by the S&S management at least annually. Where bookstores are operating at a consistent financial loss, the S&S may consider servicing readers through arrangements with exchanges, other military outlets, or consider consolidation at central points. a. Bookstore inventory levels shall be verified internally on a semiannual basis. Inventory levels shall be held to cost-effective levels that still consider the servicing needs of overseas customers. b. The S&S shall establish affidavit-return procedures to vendors and/or publishers, where possible, to return damaged merchandise, overstock, or out-of-date publications to reduce APF expenditures necessary for “over-the-water” transportation. 5. The S&S shall conduct local “market-penetration” surveys. The S&S shall also operate a “customer-complaint” feedback system to monitor its service and provide the best possible service to its customers. The results of those surveys shall be provided to the Unified Command with recommendations to the S&S board of directors, as required. E. Advertising. 1. As U.S. Government publications, the Stars and Stripes operate under the authority of the “Government Printing & Binding Regulations”4 4 Copies may be obtained from the Joint Committee on Printing of the U.S. Congress, 818 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. 2. The Stars and Stripes may sell, through commercial advertising agencies, run-of-the-paper advertising of DoD recruiting and retention programs or activities. 3. The S&S has the right to refuse any advertising. 4. The Stars and Stripes may publish news stories on special DoD-affiliated tours or entertainment opportunities for DoD personnel and their dependents in accordance with DoD Instructions 1015.25 5 See footnote 1 to A.1 of this appendix. 6 See footnote 1 to A.1 of this appendix. 5. The S&S may promote the Stars and Stripes, books, periodicals, magazines and similar products; authorized advertising; and job printing services (except APF) in the Stars and Stripes. Books, periodicals, magazines, and similar product promotions may include publications by name, title, author, and price. The Stars and Stripes also may promote literacy, health, safety, and other community service issues. 6. The S&S may promote AFRTS schedules, programs, and services in their newspapers and bookstores. The S&S shall cooperate with AFRTS outlets to promote each others' programs and services as authorized by DoD Directive 5120.207 7 See footnote 1 to A.1 of this appendix. 7. As a newspaper operated by the Department of Defense, the Stars and Stripes may not: a. Contain any material that implies that the DoD Components or their subordinate levels endorse or favor a specific commercial and/or individually-owned product, commodity, or service. b. Subscribe, even at no cost, to a commercial, feature wire, or other service whose primary purpose is the advertisement or promotion of commercial products, commodities, or services. c. Carry any advertisement that implies discrimination as to race, age, origin, gender, politics, religion, or physical characteristics that include health. F. Trademark. The S&S shall trademark the Stars and Stripes in overseas areas where it is distributed. A. General Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) Employment Policies. 1. The Stars and Stripes (S&S) shall have a personnel system that is business oriented in terms of personnel management concepts. The system shall provide maximum authority and accountability to the S&S managers at all levels and shall endeavor to improve productivity through a system of awards and bonuses for high-performing employees. The S&S NAF employees shall be governed in accordance with the U.S. Army NAF regulations, except where exceptions to general policy have been granted by the Unified Commands, the American Forces Information Service (AFIS), and the U.S. Army to the S&S. 2. As DoD employees, the S&S civilian personnel shall abide by 32 CFR part 40, the Department of Defense, the Unified Command, and the U.S. Army regulations, U.S. laws governing Government employees, the applicable host-nation laws, and the applicable status of forces agreements (SOFA) requirements. The S&S commander/publisher shall ensure that the S&S employees are made aware of those provisions before being hired and that employees receive adequate personnel training. 3. The S&S shall endeavor to recruit civilian personnel with solid experience, education, and performance credentials in the required business, publishing, or editorial disciplines. The S&S, as part of its hiring practices, shall specify terms of Government employment and include responsibilities, such as those in 32 CFR part 40, so that the S&S civilian employees are fully aware of their obligations as DoD employees. B. Appropriated Fund (APF) Personnel Assignment Authority. Appropriated-funded manpower staffing to operate, manage, or support the S&S is authorized under DoD Directive 1015.4.1 1 Copies may be obtained, at cost, from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. C. Military Officer Personnel Procedures. 1. Candidates for the S&S military officer positions shall be nominated by the Military Services, through the Director of the AFIS, to the Unified Command Commander-in-Chief (CINC), who shall make the final selection. The S&S military officer positions considered for nomination shall be the S&S commander/publisher and deputy commander(s). a. The S&S commander/publisher should have military public affairs and joint-Service experience, and a journalism degree. b. The S&S officers supervising business operations should have experience in DoD Comptroller functions and be familiar with laws and regulations applicable to DoD and NAFI business operations. A master's degree in business administration is desirable, but not mandatory. c. Instead of an advanced degree or military public affairs experience, nominees may be authorized, by the Unified Command CINC and the AFIS, to substitute a DoD-funded “training-with-industry” program with comparable newspaper operations in the United States. d. The Unified Commands shall forecast military vacancies in the S&S to allow time for the Military Services' nomination processes to be completed and provide for education before the S&S assignment. e. The Military Services shall provide highly qualified officers for all S&S assignments at the required grade levels. 2. Military officers selected for duty as S&S commander/publisher shall undergo a “training-with-industry” program to provide real-world training with a commercial newspaper. That program shall be administered by the Director of the AFIS, in coordination with the Military Services and the Unified Commands. D. Enlisted Members of the Stars and Stripes Editorial Staff. 1. Enlisted military personnel shall be assigned to the Stars and Stripes editorial staff, as reflected in the designated Unified Command Joint Manpower Program (JMP) documents, on a nominative basis. The Military Services shall nominate the most mature and professional personnel for assignment to the Stars and Stripes editorial staff at the required JMP grade- and experience-level, coordinating with the Unified Commands and the Director of the AFIS. Nominations shall be considered on a competitive basis by the S&S commander/publisher and the Stars and Stripes editor. The S&S shall request nominations 18 months before projected billet vacancies. The Military Services shall forward nominations 6–10 months in advance to the S&S, (ATTN: S&S Commander/Publisher). The Military Services shall provide the S&S with reasonable overlap of military enlisted members serving on the Stars and Stripes editorial staff. 2. The S&S commander/publisher shall coordinate with the Unified Commands to ensure that there is an appropriate mixture of Military Service billets and/or assignments represented in the S&S to preserve the tradition of the Stars and Stripes as joint-Service newspapers. A. General. 1. The Stars and Stripes shall serve the interests of their overseas DoD readership, as commercial daily newspapers serve their readers throughout the United States. However, as a Government organization, the Stars and Stripes news staff may not take an independent editorial position. The Stars and Stripes editorial practices and policies shall be in accordance with the highest standards of American journalism. 2. The Stars and Stripes editor, with the concurrence of the S&S commander/publisher, and the Unified Command Commander-in-Chief (CINC), as the owner of the newspaper, may establish a standard code of personal and professional ethics and general editorial principles similar to those developed at major metropolitan newspapers or by professional journalists in organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists. Those codes usually stress the following: a. Responsibility of the newspaper to fully inform its readership. b. Freedom of the press. c. Commitment to personal and professional ethics. d. Emphasis on content accuracy, objectivity, and fair representation of all sides of an issue. When developed, copies of the code and style guides shall be provided to the Unified Command CINC and the Director of the American Forces Information Service (AFIS). 3. The Stars and Stripes editor shall be responsible for developing editorial procedures and, if required, a style guide that mirrors daily U.S. commercial newspapers. 4. The editorial content of the Stars and Stripes shall be governed by the general principles applicable to quality commercial press as follows: a. Presentation of News. A major purpose of the Stars and Stripes is to provide news and information from varied sources. This aids DoD members and their families stationed overseas to exercise their democratic citizenship responsibilities. b. Commercially-Contracted News, Features, and Opinion Columns. The Stars and Stripes purchase (or contract for) and carry news stories, features, syndicated columns, comic strips, and editorial cartoons from commercial services or sources. Wire-service news, information, and feature material may be edited in accordance with source contracts and for space requirements. The Stars and Stripes reflect the news of the day being carried in comparable U.S. commercial daily newspapers. They should reflect different sides of issues over a reasonable amount of time. c. Staff-Generated Copy. In keeping with the standards established for major daily commercial newspapers in the United States, staff-generated news and features in the Stars and Stripes shall be accurate, factual, impartial, and objective. News stories and feature material shall distinguish between fact and opinion. Every effort should be made to attribute quotations and facts to identified sources. In the case of controversial or sensitive stories, the Stars and Stripes editor, or his or her designee, shall ascertain the identity of confidential sources, as required by normal journalistic practices that ensure that sources are credible. The Stars and Stripes may use the normal range of journalistic techniques including “people-on-the-street” interviews if that technique does not constitute a political poll. d. Political Campaign News. (1) The Stars and Stripes shall publish coverage of the U.S. political campaigns from commercial news sources. Presentation of such political campaign news shall be made on an impartial, unbiased, and nonpartisan basis reflecting DoD policies of non-endorsement of any specific candidate for an elected office. Every effort should be made to ensure that the Stars and Stripes reflect the full spectrum of campaign news being published in the United States on national candidates and issues. (2) The Stars and Stripes shall support the Federal Voting Assistance Program by carrying factual information about registration and voting laws. e. The Stars and Stripes shall provide balance in commercial syndicated columns. Since the Stars and Stripes may not take an independent editorial position, a balanced selection of syndicated opinion columns shall be published over a reasonable time period. The presentation of syndicated editorial cartoons should reflect the full spectrum of topical editorial cartoons being published throughout the United States. The S&S commander/publisher shall provide the Unified Commands annual assurance that the required balance for syndicated opinion columns has been met. B. Administrative. 1. The Stars and Stripes shall comply with DoD Instruction 1100.131 1 Copies may be obtained, at cost, from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. 2. The Stars and Stripes shall have the following disclaimer placed in the masthead or at the extreme bottom of one of the prominent pages, segregated from copy in a box: This newspaper is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense for members of the Military Services overseas. However, the contents of the Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense or the (name of the appropriate Unified Command). As a DoD newspaper, the Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote and isolated locations where overseas DoD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or the Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. C. Editorial. 1. The Stars and Stripes news staffs are authorized to gather and report news, good and bad, on the Department of Defense and its subordinate commands. All reporting necessarily requires some investigation and, as with journalists on commercial newspapers, the Stars and Stripes news staff members have the right and need to ask questions and expect response to fulfill the S&S mission. However, the Stars and Stripes is not an authorized investigative agency, such as military law enforcement agencies, investigative bodies, or an Inspector General, and shall not function in that capacity. As DoD employees, the Stars and Stripes news staff members must adhere to the DoD personnel policies that may not usually apply to journalists employed by commercial newspapers and must comply with 32 CFR part 40 and, as applicable, the Manual for Courts Martial, 1984.2 2 See footnote 1 to B.1. of this appendix. a. Since most journalistic reporting is investigative by nature, “investigative reporting,” as such, is not banned. The Stars and Stripes reporters have the same need to ask questions of sources, and expect responses, as do commercial newspaper journalists. While the Stars and Stripes staff cannot conduct independent investigations that fall under the jurisdiction of various military law enforcement or designated investigative agencies, the Stars and Stripes may report on open or completed investigations by agencies authorized to perform investigative functions. If the Stars and Stripes employees note unlawful or criminal actions in their performance of duty, they must report such incidents immediately to the S&S commander/publisher or to their immediate supervisor, in accordance with 32 CFR part 40, who shall also comply with 32 CFR part 40 and, as applicable, DoD Directive 7050.13 3 See footnote 1 to B.1. of this appendix. 4 See footnote 1 to B.1. of this appendix. b. The Stars and Stripes staff may not knowingly place classified information in Stars and Stripes staff-generated material. That does not apply to public domain information attributed to commercially contracted news, features, or opinion columns. 2. The Stars and Stripes editorial staffs shall receive the same treatment as commercial media. a. The Stars and Stripes reporters shall have the same right to ask questions, to gain help, to have access, and to attend gatherings available to reporters from the commercial media. Commanders or public affairs staffs may not use the U.S. Government status of Stars and Stripes reporters to block the release of, or access to, otherwise releasable news, information, or events. Under the same circumstances, the Stars and Stripes reporters may not use their U.S. Government status or credentials to gain special treatment, access to restricted areas or gatherings, or other advantages that are not given equally to civilian media. b. In keeping with the “Principles of Information” in 32 CFR part 375 governing release of information to commercial media, the DoD Components are expected to make available timely and accurate information so that the Stars and Stripes news staffs and readers may assess and understand the facts about their military organizations, the national defense, and defense strategy. Consistent with statutory requirements, information shall be made fully and readily available under the principles for the release of information to the media issued by the Secretary of Defense. A Government organization may not file a request for information against another Government organization under 32 CFR part 285, which implements the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the Department of Defense, but it is the responsibility of all commands to honor the DoD Principles of Information, particularly regarding the intent of open access as described in 32 CFR part 285 when responding to queries from Stars and Stripes reporters. 3. To meet organizational responsibilities, the Stars and Stripes editor, the S&S commander/publisher, and the Stars and Stripes staff members they select, should meet frequently with area commanders and public affairs officers and staffs to confer, as their counterparts in U.S. commercial daily newspapers do with local government and community interest representatives. 4. When matters of interest to the Stars and Stripes readership cut across the Unified Command component command responsibilities, the Stars and Stripes editor may use “special project reporting teams” to examine such concerns. Whether the areas of Stars and Stripes interest are military exercises, fast-breaking news affecting the entire Unified Command community, or policies that require a greater-than-individual-reporter effort, the Stars and Stripes editor, through the S&S commander/publisher, can gain help by keeping the Unified Command and its component command public affairs offices informed of the need for theater-wide assistance. Such aid could help dispel morale-damaging rumors. 5. The Stars and Stripes shall conduct readership surveys at least once every 3 years in the Unified Commands where the Stars and Stripes are distributed. Such formal surveys shall be conducted in accordance with DoD Instruction 1100.13. The S&S may make shorter market surveys through its bookstore operations to determine changing readership interests. The Stars and Stripes is also encouraged to make frequent use of readership focus groups throughout the Unified Command. 6. The Stars and Stripes may review commercial entertainment where relevant and where it supports readership interest. 7. All bureau personnel and field reporters shall have Stars and Stripes newsroom experience before being given independent assignments. The Stars and Stripes military reporters may wear military or civilian clothes at the discretion of the S&S commander/publisher. If authorized by the S&S commander/publisher, Stars and Stripes military members may be authorized a clothing allowance in accordance with individual Service directives. 8. The Stars and Stripes are both authorized to maintain a Washington, DC, bureau located with other correspondent bureaus in the OASD (PA) Correspondents' Corridor. A desk will be provided for each Stars and Stripes. The S&S shall select the most qualified reporters possible for assignment to the bureau. A joint memorandum of understanding on personnel support shall be established between the two newspapers and approved by the Unified Commands, with a copy provided to the Director of the AFIS. A. Organization and Management. 1. The S&S board of directors of each Unified Command shall provide advice to the S&S management, and recommend guidance to its Commander-in-Chief (CINC) on all business operations. Attendance is at the direction of the Unified Command CINC. 2. Each Unified Command CINC shall designate the chairman of its S&S board of directors. 3. Each S&S board of directors shall include a member from the Unified Command Offices of Public Affairs and the Comptroller, and at least one member from each of the Unified Command Service components. Members shall be appointed by the Unified Command CINC for 2 years to ensure continuity. They shall be the best qualified personnel available in business-related disciplines. Members should be at the grade of 0–5, GS–12, or higher. Other than the Unified Command and the S&S senior representatives, the S&S board members should not be members of any other S&S forums or councils. Representatives from the American Forces Information Service (AFIS) and one S&S may attend the meetings of the other S&S board of directors and have their observations included in the minutes, but they are not voting members. Recommendations approved by the S&S board of directors may be incorporated by the Unified Command CINC into the Unified Command S&S instruction or directive, as applicable. 4. The S&S board of directors should meet at least three times each year. The minutes of each meeting shall be approved by the Unified Command CINC. The approved S&S board recommendations shall be incorporated, as permanent policy, into the Unified Command S&S implementing instructions or directives. Where such recommendations affect DoD policy, the Unified Commands shall ask the Director of the AFIS for resolution. The S&S commander/publisher shall provide sufficient documentation to the S&S board members between meetings to inform them of on-going business operations and the execution of financial actions. B. Functions. 1. The S&S board of directors shall monitor planning and execution of the S&S business activities. 2. The S&S board of directors shall aid the S&S commander/publisher with evaluation of external factors that impact the S&S, such as adverse conditions, as recommended by the S&S commander/publisher, the S&S board of directors, or the Unified Command CINC. 3. Annually, the S&S commander/publisher shall provide a financial plan that shall include a capital expenditure budget and a 2-year forecast for the S&S board of directors' evaluation and recommendation to the Unified Command CINC. The S&S shall also forecast and get approval for building and/or construction projects through the S&S board of directors. 4. The S&S shall maintain a 5-year business strategic and corporate plan that shall be forwarded to the S&S board of directors. The Unified Commands shall forward the on-going strategic and corporate plan to the Director of the AFIS for overall DoD strategic goals.
Title 32: National Defense
PART 246—STARS AND STRIPES (S&S) NEWSPAPER AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Section Contents
§ 246.1 Purpose.
§ 246.2 Applicability.
§ 246.3 Definitions.
§ 246.4 Policy.
§ 246.5 Responsibilities.
§ 246.6 Procedures.
§ 246.7 Information requirements.
Appendix A to Part 246—Mission
Appendix B to Part 246—Business and Financial Operations
Appendix C to Part 246—Personnel Policies and Procedures
Appendix D to Part 246—Editorial Operations
Appendix E to Part 246—Stars and Stripes (S&S) Board of Directors
§ 246.1 Purpose.
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§ 246.2 Applicability.
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§ 246.3 Definitions.
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§ 246.4 Policy.
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§ 246.5 Responsibilities.
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§ 246.6 Procedures.
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§ 246.7 Information requirements.
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Appendix A to Part 246—Mission
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Appendix B to Part 246—Business and Financial Operations
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Appendix C to Part 246—Personnel Policies and Procedures
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Appendix D to Part 246—Editorial Operations
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Appendix E to Part 246—Stars and Stripes (S&S) Board of Directors
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