MEDIA LEAKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R002800010053-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: July 23, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/12/18: CIA-RDP86M00886R002800010053-6
CONFIDENT
ER #+ J~
NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, DC. 20505
NFIC-9.2/72
23 July 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR: National Foreign Intelligence Council Members
SUBJECT: Media Leaks
1. CIA recently sent its Headquarters employees a notice reminding them
of security requirements concerning unauthorized discussions of classified
information with the media, and of penalties for noncompliance. This was
occasioned by the remarks of a prominent journalist invited to participate in
a discussion on intelligence and the media at a seminar for senior CIA
officers. The journalist assured the group that he has sources of classified
information among CIA employees. He said he is sometimes assisted in spotting
CIA sources by analysts in other departments and agencies who identify
individuals dealing with specific issues or topics within CIA. He added that
he then calls the CIA employees at their homes in the evening and finds that
some of them are willing to talk. F-~
2. If the claim is true, Intelligence Community personnel may be
unthinkingly facilitating the efforts of journalists to obtain and publish
classified information, thereby making it available to foreign intelligence
services. CIA is responsible for ensuring that its personnel adhere to
regulations governing press contacts. It would be helpful to the security of
intelligence information generally if appropriate personnel in the NFIC
departments and agencies were briefed on the hazards of being used by media
representatives to provide referrals, and on their security obligations not to
respond to media inquiries on sensitive subjects. Any media inquiries about
the CIA or its activities, whether classified or unclass" , should be
referred to the CIA Office of Public Affairs, 351-7676.
3. Your help in trying to reduce unnecessary discussion with the media
of sensitive or potentially sensitive matters would be greatly appreciated.
(OUO)
John N. McMahon
Vice Chairman
(18 July 1984)
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CONFIDENTIAL
d-7
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 FROM:
11 July 1984
Chairman
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Acting Director, Intelligence Community Staff
3. Taubman's claim that persons in other departments and agencies help
him by providing names of CIA analysts working on particular problems shows
the need to notify the Commmunity of the security hazards involved in
providing such leads, and to ask NFIC Members to instruct their personnel not
to respond to media inquiries on sensitive subjects. A proposed memorandum to
do so is attached. Since Taubman specifically mentioned State Department
analysts as sources of leads to CIA personnel, you may wish to contact the
Director, I ally to reinforce the message in the proposed
memorandum.
their security obligations and penalties for noncompliance.
2. Background and Discussion: This spring, journalist Philip Taubman
participated in a discussion on intelligence and the media as part of a
seminar for new SIS officers. Taubman told the group that he has sources of
information among CIA employees, and that he is steered to them by analysts in
other Community organizations. After this information was provided to you, a
Headquarters Notice (copy attached) was sent out to remind all employees of
security problem and asking their assistance in remedying it.
1. Action Requested: That you sign, as Vice Chairman, National Foreign
Intelligence Council (NFIC), a memorandum to NFIC members alerting them to a
(U)
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CONFIDENTIAL
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Securitf Committee
4. Recommmendation: That you sign the attached proposed memorandum
Attarhmpntc-
A~
B. Proposed memorandum
CnNFTf1FNTTAi
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 Approved For Release 2008/12/18: CIA-RDP86M00886R002800010053-6
CONFIDENTIAL
13 JUL. 1984
Acting Director, Intelligence
ity Staff Date
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, DC. 20505
18 JUL 1994
MEMORANDUM FOR: Notional Foreign Intelligence Council Members
SUBJECT: Media Leaks
some of them are willing to talk.
1. CIA recently sent its Headquarters employees a notice reminding them
of security requirements concerning unauthorized discussions of classified
information with the media, and of penalties for noncompliance. This was
occasioned by the remarks of a prominent journalist invited to participate in
a discussion on intelligence and the media at a seminar for senior CIA
officers. The journalist assured the group that he has sources of classified
information among CIA employees. He said he is sometimes assisted in spotting
CIA sources by analysts in other departments and agencies who identify
individuals dealing with specific issues or topics within CIA. He added that
he then calls the CIA employees at their homes in the evening and finds that
2. If the claim is true, Intelligence Community personnel may be
unthinkingly facilitating the efforts of journalists to obtain and publish
classified information, thereby making it available to foreign intelligence
services. CIA is responsible for ensuring that its personnel adhere to
regulations governing press contacts. It would be helpful to the security of
intelligence information generally if appropriate personnel in the NFIC
departments and agencies were briefed on the hazards of being used by media
representatives to provide referrals, and on their security obligations not to
respond to media inquiries on sensitive subjects. Any media inquiries about
the CIA or its activities, whether classified or unclassified should be
referred to the CIA Office of Public Affairs, 351-7676.
3. Your help in trying to reduce unnecessary discussion with the media
of of sensitive or potentially sensitive matters would be greatly appreciated.
/s/ Jc."-n N. ;.,_ :1-a
John N. McMahon
Vice Chairman
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 Approved For Release 2008/12/18: CIA-RDP86M00886R002800010053-6
This Notice Expires 1 November 1984
12 April 1984
No Field Counterpart to this HN.
1. At a recent Agency training course for senior officers, a
prominent journalist participated in a discussion on intelligence and the
media. Among other things, he assured the group that he has sources of
classified information among CIA employees. He said he is sometimes
assisted in spotting CIA sources by analysts in other departments and
agencies who tell him of individuals dealing with specific issues or
topics within the Agency. He then calls the CIA employees at home in the
evening and finds that some of them are willing to talk.
2. This revelation is shocking. Agency regulations, security
indoctrinations, and the very environment in which we live leave no doubt
in the minds of employees that unauthorized discussions with the media
about classified information are a serious breach of security and trust
of employment.
3. Employees are reminded that under the terms o( Release
of Agency Information to Representatives of the Public Information Media,
all inquiries, whether official or unofficial,-from representatives of
the media must be referred to the Public Affairs Office. This policy is
firm. Employees who are discovered violating this policy expose
themselves to harsh administrative penalties, including termination of
employment.
Harry E. Fitzwater
Deputy Director
for
Administration
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 Approved For Release 2008/12/18: CIA-RDP86M00886R002800010053-6
SECOM-D-141, 11 July 1984
Prepared by: SECOM
11 July 84
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee, w/atts
1 - AD/ICS, Watts
- ER, Watts
1 - ICS Registry, w/atts
1 - SECOM Chrono, w/atts
1 - SECOM Subject, w/atts-
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