FUNCTIONS OF POLICY AND PROGRAMS UNIT AND OF OPERATIONS
Media Unit Chiefs and Information Officers have become familiar with a certain general pattern in the handling of programs from their initial planning stages through to their execution. In the past, both functions--planning and execution (or operations) have been coordinated within the Policy and Programs Unit. In order to clarify the intended functions of Operations and of the Policy and Programs Unit, as they affect Media Units and Information Officers, the following basic descriptions of each are given:
POLIOY AND PROGRAMS UNIT
This is essentially a planning unit. In addition, the Chief of the Unit is the source of advice on policy. The basic responsibilities of the Unit are:
Planning envisions:
Planning is carried out generally in the following manner; Information Officers of the Unit obtain material through (a) liaison with respective SCAP Sections to which assigned, (b) other CIE Divisions and (c) various conferences. This material is the basis for their planning. Plans or recommendations are drawn up with the advice and assistance of the Chief of the Unit, who at the same time clears matters of policy. In the planning of a program the Chief of the Unit is kept informed on the progress of current programs and on facilities or schedules available for implementing new programs. Source for this is Operations through liaison with Media Units.
OPERATIONS
The responsibilities of Operations are basically as follows;
These functions may best be carried out in the following manner: In each Media unit one officer, usually the Executive Officer, functions as Operations Officer for that Unit. By having all members of his Unit inform daily of their respective progress or work done, such directly related to the execution of programs or dissemination of informational material, this officer maintains up-to-the-minute liaison with Operations on the status any given program or project in his unit. By this same liaison. Operations works with each respective Unit in (a) scheduling existing facilities within the Media Unit for implementation of approved programs or "spot" material, and (b) developing new facilities, methods, techniques or ideas for implementation of programs. In cases where information Officers work directly with Media Units (where time element is of such importance as to make this a necessity) Operations will at once be informed.
Operations also keeps respective Media Units informed of the schedules of other Media Units, and works with all these units in coordinating their facilities for the most effective execution of programs. Where Information Officers are needed to supply material they may be requested by Operations in keeping with existing schedules. Where they submit material, either of a "spot" nature or in direct connection with a program they may work directly with Operations and Media Units. In either case, Policy and Program Chief will be immediately informed.