Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXX, Public Diplomacy

133. Memorandum From Paul Henze of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, June 6, 1978

SUBJECT

• New VOA Correspondents’ Guidelines

John Reinhardt has written you (TAB A) and enclosed draft guidelines (TAB B)² for VOA correspondents abroad which he plans to issue shortly. He is not asking for your review or approval of them but in sending them to you in advance of issuance he is giving you the opportunity to object. There is nothing to object to and the letter does not require a formal answer. I recommend I mention it to him orally when I see him in a few days.

The guidelines go to great length to define the status and responsibilities of VOA correspondents overseas as exactly the same as all other journalists, including the principle that they are denied diplomatic or special passports and use of facilities reserved for official Americans. Their activities are not to be under the control of chiefs of mission in any respect and they are to be controlled wholly from VOA/Washington. Arrangements reminiscent for those for resolving disputes between COSs and Ambassadors are provided in case of disputes—they are to be referred back to Washington. The guidelines are thus consistently idealistic and reflect the spirit of the times and the lofty principles which prevailed when the ICA in its present form was established, VOA correspondents are discouraged from indulging in sensation or irresponsible reporting, however, by the statement: “VOA correspondents are not investigative reporters . . .”

RECOMMENDATION—That you not respond formally to Reinhardt’s letter; I will mention³ these guidelines to him orally.⁴

AGREE _______

DISAGREE _______

Tab A

Memorandum From the Director of the International Communication Agency (Reinhardt) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)⁵

Washington, June 1, 1978

SUBJECT

• New Guidelines for VOA Correspondents

Attached for your information is a copy of new guidelines, which I plan to issue shortly, governing the role, status and responsibilities of VOA correspondents overseas.⁶

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a much-needed clarification of the position of VOA foreign correspondents, in order to insure fulfillment of the VOA’s legislated charter and the President’s mandate that VOA news gathering and reporting functions be kept “independent and objective.”

Essentially, the guidelines separate VOA correspondents from official U.S. Missions abroad. They make it clear that VOA foreign correspondents are government-employed journalists, not diplomats. They relieve the Ambassador and his Mission colleagues from even the appearance of responsibility for the content of VOA news broadcasts.

At the same time, the guidelines reemphasize the need for the correspondent to inform the Mission prior to undertaking any coverage which may be sensitive or controversial; they also reaffirm the right of the Ambassador, through appropriate channels, to comment on or question correspondent coverage.

I am convinced that the new guidelines, which have been worked on with care over many months, will help minimize, if not eliminate entirely, the various disputes that have arisen from time to time over correspondent activities. They will not, however, be universally applauded at our overseas Missions. With this in mind, I have forwarded a copy of the guidelines to Secretary Vance with the suggestion that their issuance be accompanied by a statement that the Department concurs in the guidelines and urges full cooperation from all Mission personnel overseas.

Since annual shifts in correspondent assignments begin early in July, I believe it would be helpful to have the guidelines issued, with Department support, by mid-June.

1. Source: Carter Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, Federal Government, Voice of America, Executive, Box FG–218, FG 298–1 1/20/77–12/31/78. No classification marking. Sent for action. Dodson and Inderfuth initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Notations in two unknown hands read: “Sent cy of Guidelines only to Newsom from DA” and “OBE discussed with Newsom.” An attached NSC Correspondence Profile indicates that the issue was termed OBE on July 10 per Aaron’s discussion with Newsom. (Ibid.)
2. Attached but not printed is a June 1 paper entitled “Guidelines and Operating Procedures for VOA’s Foreign Correspondents.”
3. Aaron circled “I will mention,” drew a line from the phrase to the bottom margin, and wrote “What will you say? DA.”
4. Brzezinski did not approve or disapprove the recommendation. In the right-hand margin of the memorandum, he wrote: “DA You might check with Newsom whether this doesn’t go too far. State should control more. ZB.” Also attached to Reinhardt’s June 1 memorandum and the VOA Guidelines are a June 16 routing slip from Hill transmitting a draft memorandum from Christopher to Reinhardt concerning the Department of State’s “minor changes and revisions” to the guidelines and enclosing a revised draft. Hill indicated that the attached draft “incorporates the recommendations of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs and responds to his desire to make the minimum changes necessary to protect policy interests.” (Carter Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, Federal Government, Voice of America, Executive, Box FG–218, FG 298–1 1/20/77–12/31/78)
5. No classification marking.
6. See Document 135.