CENTRALIZED REPORTING OF PROPAGANDA AND INTELLIGENCE IN FOREIGN RADIO AND PRESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003400110037-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 2003
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: November 5, 1946
• Content Type: MF

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CENTR . IIVl'ELLIGi;1VC:f GROUP
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORM TION SERVICE
Washington 25, D. C.
CONFIDENTIAL
5 November 1946
111SPIORANDUM FOR: Brig. Gen. Edwin L. Sibert
Assistant Director for Operations, CIG
25X1
SUBJECT: Centralized Reporting of Propaganda and Intelligence in
Foreign Radio and Press.
1. In accordance with your recent request, I have surveyed the possi-
bility of having a central organization prepare regional and topical studies
of all forms of foreign propaganda. At the present time no complete analysis
is being made in Washington of the product of either the foreign radio or
the foreign press. The material being received from the foreign radio and
the foreign press is used principally to obtain spot intelligence. The
collection of this material is centralized for radio material in the FBIS,
but there is no adequate centralized handling of the foreign press. It has
been proposed by representatives of the State and War Departments that the
national interest would be served by having a central organization perform
the following functions:
a. Analyze foreign radio transmissions as a source of
information with periodic regional reports on radio
propaganda "lines".
b?, Collect all foreign press and prepare regular digests
as well as special long-range reports to supplemexIt
press cables received from the field.
1&x:alysis of Foreign Radio:
2. At the present time there is no analysis or "control" study made of
the foreign radio as a source of information. In order that intelligence
offices may evaluate properly the radio intercepts collected by FBIS,
information snould be available on transmitter cnaracteristics, the role
of different commentators, variations in broadcasts by beams, and changes
in established radio propaganda trends. The staff in the best position
to provide the above data for research and evaluation offices would be a
group attached to tie present radio collection organization familiar with
radio material and its limitations.
CONFIDENT IA' L
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3. The radio analysis defined above should probably be prepared in
weekly or semi-monthly regional reports. It is estimated that it will
require a minimum staff of 35 professional and clerical personnel to under-
take this assignment at an approximate annual cost of X150,000. For the
remainder of fiscal year 1547, it is dqubtful whether more than x50,000
would be expended on this project.
Centralized Review of- Foreign Press:
4. The centralized handling of the foreign press presents a more
difficult problem of coordination than exists for the foreign radio. Some
parts of the job must and can best be handled by State, VVar and Navy
Department representatives in the field. Other aspects may be handled
more efficiently by a central organization. The two different methods
must be carefully defined to avoid unnecessary duplication. The job tnat
could be performed most satisfactorily by a central organization is the
following:
a? Long-,range special reports on public opinion or
government propaganda as expressed in the press.
b. Regular reports diigestin6 foreign press text wtiich
contains pertinent intelliLence data not included
in the press cables from the field.
An important phase in the operation of centralized press collection would
be the responsibility for providing guidance to the State Department's
press attaches on the current Vuashington needs for local press material.
5, The coll sting, digesting, and reporting of material in the foreign
press would require a sampling of at least 600 newspapers with a minimum
staff of an translators and clerks. This would cost approxi-
mately year for personnel alone. Since an organization of
this size would take many months to develop, it would be preferable to
start with a few countries (say, t&zssia, Russiarn-satellites, China and
the United Kingdom) and add coverage as the need arises.
limited handling of the foreign press would require a sampleeoftabout
100 newspapers and a minimum staff of,eopie at a cost of approxi-
mately year.
6, The Library of Congress has offered the State Department to assist
in the operation of a central press review. The Library has the most
complete collection of foreign newspapers and periodicals available in
nashington at the present time. This coll,;etion could be used as the
raw material in the early stages of' the operation and supplemented as
other more difficult to obtain papers become available. The offer of the
Library of Congress also includes space and a limited amount of profes-
sional assistance in organizing the activity.
STAT
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CONFIDENTIAL
7. If it is determin:d that a central organization should undertake
the function of preparing long-range-reports based on foreign press ma-
terial, it is recommended that an informal advisory committee be formed
to assist the operating personnel in the shaping of this activity. This
committee should consist of properly informed rtprosentatives of the Var,
Navy and State Departments and any other agency who may have a need for
the ultimate end product.
CONFIDENTIAL
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