engagements with THE MEDIA AND GENERAL PUBLIC
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
(Office of Origin: R/EX)
10 FAM 321 POLICY, SCOPE, AND AUTHORITY
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10 FAM 321.1 Policy
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a. All official statements to the press must be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs, or their designee, or the Office of the Department Spokesperson. The PAO Checklist outlines the process for clearing press guidance and other official statements or releases to the press.
b. All official public remarks and testimony must be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs or their designee.
c. All official capacity appearances or communication before the media or public including interviews, speeches, or remarks by employees in the United States must be cleared with the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs or their designee, or the Office of the Department Spokesperson. See 10 FAM 321.4. See also 3 FAM 4174.2 and 3 FAM 4174.3.
d. Ultimately, employees remain responsible for their personal-capacity public communications whether or not such communications are on topics of Departmental concern. See 3 FAM 4174.2
e. The Office of Inspector General is exempt from these clearances and approvals but will notify the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs or designee when testifying, making public remarks, interviews, speeches, and relevant writing and teaching.
f. For information on employee public communications, see 3 FAM 4170.
10 FAM 321.2 Scope
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a. The policy for official public engagement applies to all Department of State employees. The definition of employee in 3 FAM 4173 is incorporated here by reference.
b. The policy for personal capacity speaking, writing, or teaching (see 3 FAM 4170 and 10 FAM 331.4) applies to all current Department of State employees.
c. Former employees remain obligated by law not to disclose classified information, and certain employees may be bound by nondisclosure agreements. See also 3 FAM 4174.2, paragraph d.
10 FAM 321.3 Responsibilities
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a. The Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) or the Office of the Department Spokesperson (SPOX) clears all official Department statements, releases to the press, and media interviews, except those cleared by Chiefs of Mission overseas (3 FAM 4175.3). No authorship should be cited, as such communications are the voice of the Department. Speeches by the Secretary or a Deputy Secretary are cleared by GPA or SPOX.
b. GPA clears all official capacity public remarks by Department employees, except those cleared by Chiefs of Mission overseas (3 FAM 4175.3).
c. GPA or SPOX clears all official capacity employee appearances before the public (including media), except those cleared by Chiefs of Mission overseas (3 FAM 4175.3).
d. GPA oversees dissemination of official capacity public remarks via flagship Department platforms and mechanisms.
e. GPA reviews employee personal capacity speaking, writing, and teaching (see 3 FAM 4176 and 10 FAM 321.4).
10 FAM 321.4 Definitions
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Refer to 3 FAM 4173 for a comprehensive list of definitions related to clearance and review of official and personal capacity public communications.
10 FAM 321.5 Authorities
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Bureau of Global Public Affairs authorities are stated in 1 FAM 005.2.
10 FAM 322 OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND REMARKS TO THE PRESS
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a. Statements and remarks to the media are made only by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary or Under Secretary, Chiefs of Mission at post or their designee, the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs, the Department Spokesperson, Deputy Spokesperson or authorized personnel of the Office of Press Operations, and other Department officials authorized to deliver such statements by GPA (such as bureau press officers and foreign-language spokespersons). For information on blanket authorizations, see 3 FAM 4175. Note that authorizations may be revoked at any time.
b. The PAO Checklist outlines the process for clearing press guidance and other official statements and releases to the press.
c. While the Chief of Mission or their designee serves as the final review office for official public communications by employees abroad under that Chief of Mission's authority that only aim to reach a local audience, requests by employees abroad, including Chiefs of Mission, to engage with U.S. domestic media outlets, U.S. audiences, or organizations with significant U.S. domestic or international impact, particularly English language outlets, must also be cleared by GPA. For additional information, see 3 FAM 4174.3 and 3 FAM 4175.3.
10 FAM 323 PREPARING OFFICIAL PUBLIC REMARKS
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Department officials should submit drafts of public remarks at least five working days ahead of the event for clearance by the Assistant Secretary for GPA or their designee within GPA.
10 FAM 324 PUBLIC APPEARANCES
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10 FAM 324.1 Official Media Appearances
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The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Media (GPA/GM) or their designee, in coordination with the Office of the Department Spokesperson, clears all requests and arrangements by domestic personnel to engage with media and all requests and arrangements by employees abroad to engage with U.S. media outlets, U.S. audiences, or organizations with significant U.S. domestic or international impact. At post, the Chief of Mission or their designee clears all requests and arrangements for interviews with local media within that posts purview.
10 FAM 324.2 Public Events and Appearances
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a. Bureaus must obtain clearance from GPA for all employee official capacity appearances before the public and must keep GPA informed of any changes to the event.
b. All employees must first submit the text, talking points, interview notes, and/or other materials supporting the appearance to their immediate supervisors and any other offices concerned with the subject matter for preliminary review, editing, and approval, including the employee's bureau or post public affairs officer. Once those preliminary approvals have been obtained, the materials must be submitted to the final review office (see 3 FAM 4174.3a), noting all such clearances, and referencing the final review office's clearance of the engagement itself.
10 FAM 325 DISSEMINATION OF PUBLIC REMARKS
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a. The Office of Platforms (GPA/DIG/PLT) posts key speeches, testimony, and official remarks from the State Department and its officials on state.gov.
b. The Office of Press Operations (GPA/GM/PRS) releases major speeches, remarks, testimony, transcripts, and other official statements made by the Secretary and certain other Department officials. Bureaus must refer to the PAO Checklist on the process for clearing such releases.
c. The Office of International Media Engagement (GPA/GM/IME) translates and circulates important speeches, remarks, testimony, transcripts, and other official statements from the Secretary and other Department officials to audiences around the world.
10 FAM 326 REGIONAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING SUPPORT
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GPA's Office of International Media Engagement (GPA/GM/IME) provides media and messaging support to Department communicators overseas through its Regional Media Hubs in Bangkok, Brussels, Dubai, Johannesburg, London, and Miami. Media Hubs offer direct engagement, media training, media analysis, translation support, and other customized services. Media Hubs with Hub+ elements provide customized strategic communications, analytics, and digital support to assist posts on regional and global priorities.
10 FAM 326.1 International Media Interview Training
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GPA/GM/IME prepares senior Washington, D.C.-based officials for on-the-record engagements with journalists. This customized training gives principals the skills to communicate policy messages and handle a wide range of scenarios.
IME also collaborates with NFATC to host advanced on-camera media training (PT301) via the Regional Media Hubs. Three-day PT301 courses are regularly offered in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Hindi/Urdu, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. PT301 trains Department and interagency communicators to engage on-the-record with international media in foreign languages.
10 FAM 326.2 Translation Support
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The Language Resources Division in GPA's Office of International Media Engagement (GPA/GM/IME) produces rapid translations of press releases, remarks, and other products for use by journalists and Department communicators. Staff translators work in nine primary languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
10 FAM 327 Support for Foreign Media in the United States
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The Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA), through its Foreign Press Centers (FPC), serves as the Department's primary liaison with foreign journalists on assignment in the United States. Through centers in Washington, D.C., and New York City, FPC staff facilitate access to authoritative sources of information about U.S. policy and society, including by issuing press credentials, organizing briefings and reporting tours on Administration policies, disseminating written products, and assisting with information requests.
10 FAM 327.1 Credentialing for Foreign Media
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Media professionals working for foreign media organizations, including correspondents, reporters, photojournalists, multimedia broadcasters, and editors assigned to work in the United States are eligible to apply for a press credential from the Foreign Press Center. Credentials are available to both long-term assignees and those in the United States temporarily for reporting assignments.
10 FAM 327.1-1 Application Procedure
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The FPC reviews applications for credentials to ensure the applicant's eligibility in accordance with established guidelines. If approved, press credentials are issued, granting the journalist access to events and briefings organized or facilitated by the FPC. FPC credentials are often recognized by organizations outside of the government.
10 FAM 327.1-2 Press Credentialing for Large Summits and Meetings
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In addition to issuing individual FPC credentials, the FPC plays a role in the credentialing process for media personnel covering major summits and conferences hosted by the United States. This includes events of national and international significance, where the presence of global media outlets is expected.
10 FAM 328 REPORTING TOURS FOR FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
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The FPC is responsible for arranging and carrying out reporting tours in the United States for foreign journalists. These tours vary in size and focus, and are designed to promote important administration priorities to international audiences. The FPC works with U.S. missions abroad and domestic offices to create programs for visiting journalists. Reporting tours offer journalists on assignment official opportunities to gather information, and participants retain complete editorial control over their news coverage. Posts and bureaus interested in organizing on-the-record reporting activities, such as reporting tours or media collaborations for journalists from their regions, can reach out to the FPC for more information.