FBIS COLLECTION GUIDANCE NO. 85-06: MOSCOW TV VSL GUIDELINES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100170040-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: February 19, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100170040-2
MHQ-5017/85
19 February 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Operations Group
Chief, Analysis Group
Chief, Production Group
Chief, Monitoring Operations Division
SPC, Production Group
Chief, USSR Division
Chief, London Bureau
Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Chief, Austria Bureau
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
Chief, Seoul Bureau
Chief, Panama Bureau
Senior Requirements Officer
Liaison and Requirements Branch, E$PS
STAT
FBIS Colle ance No. 85-06: Moscow TV VSL
Guidelines
1. Attached are some guidelines to assist London and Okinawa in
selecting material from Moscow television other than the obvious shots of
the top Soviet leadership and new military hardware. These guidelines
are a result of a survey of various consumers who were asked to comment
on a list of video selection requirements drafted by MOD. The purpose of
the survey was to he a and reformulate requirements and
selection guidance.
2. Although the survey focused on Soviet television, consumer
interest often spilled over to the television of other countries as
well. As a result, we hope th 'nes will also be general enough
to be of use to other bureaus.
3. Please understand that we consider these guidelines to be
exactly that--guidelines and not formal requirements. We told the
consumers that our survey had been a special effort aimed at locating
areas of interest and refining requirements, but that FBIS would not be
able to provide this additional volume of video material regularly until
we were able to increase staffing at the bureaus concerned.
4. The promise of television has definitely captured the
imaginations of many of our consumers. Needless to say, these guidelines
will probably go through several evolutions before we can pinpoint more
precisely what people want. As we all know, however, events often drive
STAT
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100170040-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100170040-2
our collection effort. Everyone is thus encouraged to use imagination
and commonsense when considering whether particular video coverage seems
unusual and unique or can otherwise add to an analyst's understanding of
events. In the meantime, here is a first cut at some tangible targets1we
encourage you to take into account when viewing television.
5. We welcome your comments, since only through your feedback can
we begin to re ine_the guidelines and educate our consumers as to what
is practical.
FOR THE DIRECTOR, FBIS:
DDS$T/FBIS/E$PS/LR~ I(19Feb85)
Orig. - LRB Requirements File, w/att.
1 - D/FBIS Chrono, wo/att. V'
1 - C/Ops, w/att.
1 - C/Prod, w/att.
1 - C/AG, w/att.
1 - C/DRD, w/att.
1 - Chief, UD, w/att.
1 - SPC Production Group, w/att.
1 - Chief, London Bureau, w/att.
1 - Chief, Okinawa Bureau, w/att.
1 - Chief, Austria Bureau, w/att.
1 - Chief, Seoul Bureau, w/att.
1 - Chief, Hong Kong Bureau, w/att.
1 - Chief, Panama Bureau, w/att.
1 - E$PS Chrono, wo/att.
1 - MHQ File, wo/att.
Q
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100170040-2