FARA and FARA and Governments’ Use of Governments’ Use of

Public RelationsPublic RelationsJames BatemanJames Bateman

United States GovernmentUnited States Government

Office of Global Communications (OGC)Office of Global Communications (OGC) ““The OGC was formed in 2002 to coordinate strategic The OGC was formed in 2002 to coordinate strategic

communications overseas that integrate the communications overseas that integrate the President’s themes and truthfully depict America and President’s themes and truthfully depict America and Administration policies.”Administration policies.”

Important role of OGC is countering propaganda and Important role of OGC is countering propaganda and disinformationdisinformation

OGC coordination efforts focus on 1) daily messages, OGC coordination efforts focus on 1) daily messages, 2) communications planning, and 3) long-term 2) communications planning, and 3) long-term strategystrategy

global global messenger.pdfmessenger.pdf

United States GovernmentUnited States Government

House of Representatives Special Investigations House of Representatives Special Investigations Division reportDivision report2001-20042001-2004 Bush Administration spending for PRBush Administration spending for PR Federal Agencies spending for PRFederal Agencies spending for PR PR agencies that received federal contractsPR agencies that received federal contracts Government Accountability Office findingsGovernment Accountability Office findings

FARAFARA

Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 Purpose of FARAPurpose of FARA How it worksHow it works RegistrationRegistration 2007 Statistics2007 Statistics

June 30 2007.pdfJune 30 2007.pdf ExampleExample

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

Qorvis CommunicationsQorvis Communications

Patton BoggsPatton Boggs

Exhibit A To Registration StatementExhibit A To Registration Statement

Exhibit B To Registration StatementExhibit B To Registration Statement

ConclusionConclusion

Governments were among the first organizations to Governments were among the first organizations to need, and to practice, public relationsneed, and to practice, public relations

Many governments today are hiring PR agencies to Many governments today are hiring PR agencies to promote their country’s image abroadpromote their country’s image abroad

Public diplomacy or propaganda?Public diplomacy or propaganda? How FARA and governments’ use of public relations How FARA and governments’ use of public relations

affects meaffects me