Public Affairs Regulations

This publication, Army Regulation AR 360-1 The Army Public Affairs Program 8 December 2017, is a major revision that provides guidelines for command and public information, including information released to the media, and community relations programs intended for internal and external audiences with interest in the U.S. Army. This revision also defines the staff relationship of the public affairs officer; identifies public affairs as an inherently governmental function; requires commanders to appoint a unit public affairs representative to any unit that is not supported by a designated public affairs officer; updates policies for Army musical support; and adds official and unofficial Web site publishing guidance. Applicability. This regulation applies to the active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated. It also applies to civilian employees of the Department of the Army. Overseas commanders are responsible for the conduct of public affairs activities within their commands and will be guided by the policies of the Department of the Army and of the commanders of unified commands. In the event of conflict, the policies of the unified command will govern. During mobilization, chapters and policies in this regulation may be modified by the proponent. Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Chief, Public Affairs. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific guidance. Army internal control process. This regulation contains management control provisions and identifies key management controls that must be evaluated (see appendix L). Supplementation. Supplementation of this regulation and establishment of command and local forms are prohibited without prior approval from the Chief, Public Affairs (SAPA-ZA), 1500 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-1500.

The image of public relations, and particularly government public relations, is often linked to thoughts of press agentry and propaganda (Brown, 1976; Cutlip, 1995; Cutlip, Center, & Broom, 2000; Lesly, 1988), and journalists seem to agree with this association (Ryan & Martinson, 1985; Stegall & Sanders, 1986). As a result, a "media-public relations struggle' (Cutlip, 1976, p. 6) ensues, despite the reliance each has upon the other to do their jobs effectively (Bishop, 1988; Brown, 1976; Cutlip, 1976; Gieber & Johnson, 1961; Shea & Gulick, 1997; Sietel, 1992). This mutually-dependent relationship is especially important to the Department of Defense (Baroody, 1999, Braestrup, 1991), which considers the news media "the principal means of communicating information about the military to the general public" (Joint Pub 3-61, p. vi) and measures the effectiveness of the military public affairs program upon its ability to communicate with various publics to maintain awareness and support of the Defense Department (Public Affairs Handbook, 1991). Each of the branches of the armed forces - the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps - has a distinct public affairs structure, including how they designate public affairs officers (Public Affairs Handbook, 1991). With the exception of the Marine Corps, which follows Navy guidelines, each branch also has their own set of regulations and policies.

Addressing a critical need, Advertising and Public Relations Law explores the issues and ideas that affect the regulation of advertising and public relations speech, some of the most dynamic and prevalent areas of professional communications today. This updated third edition explores the categorization of different kinds of speech and their varying levels of First Amendment protection as well as common areas of litigation for communicators such as defamation, invasion of privacy, and copyright and trademark infringement. Features of this edition include: A new chapter on Internet-related laws affecting advertising and public relations speech. History and background of major legal theories affecting professional communicators. Extended excerpts from major court decisions. Overviews of relevant federal and state regulatory schemes, including those promulgated and enforced by the FTC, FCC, FDA and others. Appendices providing a legal glossary, a chart of the judicial system, sample model releases and copyright agreement forms. The volume is developed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in media, advertising and public relations law or regulation courses. It also serves as an essential reference for advertising and public relations practitioners.