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Bureau of Public Affairs
Seal of the United States Department of State
Bureau overview
Formed1944; 80 years ago (1944)[1]
DissolvedMay 28, 2019
Superseding bureau
JurisdictionExecutive branch of the United States
HeadquartersHarry S. Truman Building, Washington, D.C., United States
Employees209 (as of 2010)[1]
Annual budget$13.5 million (FY 2009)[1]
Parent departmentU.S. Department of State
Websitewww.state.gov/r/pa/ Edit this at Wikidata

The Bureau of Public Affairs (PA) was the part of the United States Department of State that carries out the secretary of state's mandate to help Americans understand the importance of foreign policy. The bureau was led by the assistant secretary of state for public affairs. On May 28, 2019, the bureau merged with the Bureau of International Information Programs into the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, and the duties of the assistant secretary of state merged into the duties of the assistant secretary of state for global public affairs.[2]

The PA Bureau pursued the State Department's mission to inform the American people and to feed their concerns and comments back to the policymakers. It accomplished this in a variety of ways, which included:

  • Strategic and tactical planning to advance the Administration's priority foreign policy goals;
  • Conducting press briefings for domestic and foreign press corps;
  • Pursuing media outreach, enabling Americans everywhere to hear directly from key Department officials through local, regional and national media interviews;
  • Managing the State Department's websites[3] and developing web pages with up-to-date information about U.S. foreign policy;
  • Answering questions from the public about current foreign policy issues by phone, email, or letter;
  • Arranging town meetings and scheduling speakers to visit communities to discuss U.S. foreign policy and why it is important to all Americans;
  • Producing and coordinating audio-visual products and services in the U.S. and abroad for the public, the press, the Secretary of State, and Department bureaus and offices;
  • Preparing historical studies on U.S. diplomacy and foreign affairs matters.

Office of Regional Media Outreach

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The Office of Regional Media Outreach (RMO) provided local, regional, specialty, and national media a central connection point to department newsmakers.

Their database of newsmakers enabled members of the media to quickly find an expert at the department to provide insight, analysis, and expertise on foreign affairs, news and events. Searches could be made by name, issue, position or language spoken. Once an expert was identified, their staff would set up an interview for television, radio, or print media.

They listed their forty-seven available experts.[4]

Office of Electronic Information

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The Office of Electronic Information and Publications oversaw the State Department's website, gathering information from all other parts of the Department, as well as participating in the process of publishing printed documents.[5]

Issues and press

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This tab of the State Department's website[6] gives the official U.S. position on the major issues in the news. As it is the official publication of opinion from the U.S. State Department, it offers its own view of an issue, and any reports that support it. It is a start for preliminary research. On this same tab you can find daily press briefings from the major outlets of official statement. A record of "Remarks, Testimony: Senior Officials" since 2001,[7] "Daily Briefings"[8] and "Remarks, Testimony: Senior Officials"[7] Also available is a statement from Secretary Rice[9] and information about joining the listserv to receive 2-5 briefings a day.[10] RSS Feeds and press releases from the Foreign Press Center,[11] USAID,[12] and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN).[13] There is a section dedicated to audio and video content, including podcasts.[14] "Major State Department Publications"[15] giving information on past bribery charges and a "Guide to Doing Business"[16] in the U.S. are all available online.

Travel and business

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This tab of State's website offers important information and tips for traveling and business.[17] For travel, they offer information on properly documenting your identity on trips. Also included is information on visas, and the developing technology of "e-passports".[18]

For business, they offer studies on major foreign markets and subsequent regulations,[19] and provide a tool for international market research.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Inspection of the Bureau of Public Affairs" (PDF). Inspector General of the Department of State. February 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "Administrative Timeline of the Department of State". United States Department of State. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "U.S. Department of State". State.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Newsmakers[dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Bureau of Public Affairs: Electronic Information and Publications Office". 2001-2009.state.gov. September 25, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  6. ^ https://2001-2009.state.gov/issuesandpress. Retrieved August 16, 2006. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Remarks, Testimony, Speeches, and Briefings by Department of State Officials". State.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "Daily Press Briefings". State.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  9. ^ "Former Secretary Clinton's Remarks". State.gov. January 26, 2005. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  10. ^ https://2009-2017.state.gov/misc/echannels/66822.htm. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ "Briefings". Fpc.state.gov. June 19, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  12. ^ www.usaid.gov https://web.archive.org/web/20070323155039/http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/. Archived from the original on March 23, 2007. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ "United States Mission to the United Nations". Un.int. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  14. ^ "Podcasts". Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
  15. ^ "Major State Department Publications". State.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "Guide to Doing Business with the Department of State". November 19, 2004. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
  17. ^ "Travel and Business". January 8, 2009.
  18. ^ "The U.S. Electronic Passport". Archived from the original on August 12, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2006.
  19. ^ "Doing Business in International Markets". U.S. Department of State.
  20. ^ ITA (May 14, 2009). "U.S. Commercial Service : Your Global Business Partner". Buyusainfo.net. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
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