The Office of Public Liaison (PL) serves as the public and media affairs office for the U.S. Information Agency in the United States. PL is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating USIA's domestic public affairs activities and for developing its communications strategy. PL’s overarching objective is to increase public understanding of USIA, by providing information about the agency's policies, mission, and programs to the American people, the media, academic institutions and exchange organizations.

Services:

  PL Staff are available to answer questions from the public and the media about USIA's programs and role in supporting US foreign policy abroad.

PL prepares News Releases on current USIA activities.

PL can arrange interviews with USIA officials and regional experts on USIA's domestic and international programs.

PL arranges and conducts briefings about USIA for visitors to the agency headquarters in Washington.  Visitors include government officials, student groups, college interns, and foreign visitors.

PL manages the USIA Homepage and The Public Diplomacy Forum, USIA's online journal and resource site for USIA and public diplomacy issues.

USIA officials -- agency leaders, regional, and program bureau directors -- are listed here. USIA officials may be contacted through PL to discuss Agency programs.

USIA phone directory: If you know the name or office symbol of the person you are trying to reach, you may use this online telephone directory.

US Embassies abroad. This links to the State Department's list of U.S. Embassy addresses and key personnel overseas. USIA, known overseas as USIS, can be reached through the American Embassy or Consulate abroad.

The independent Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy is a bipartisan, Presidentially-appointed panel created by Congress to look broadly in the public interest at U.S. government activities intended to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics.

The non-profit Public Diplomacy Foundation, a USIA alumni and outreach organization, tracks current issues in public diplomacy.

The State Department's Outreach site and Bureau of Public Affairs address American public concerns on current foreign policy and State Department issues.

Though limited, USIA civil service jobs are listed on the Fedworld database.  Contact USIA's Office of Human Resources - M/HRCO, (202) 619-4656, for further information.

USIA foreign service careers are described on the Department of State's Recruitment website.

Volunteer Internship Program: USIA unpaid internships are available.

For internships, please send the following to USIA:
Application form: Use federal government form OF-612, SF-171, or a detailed Resume, with an OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment.

Narrative Statement: A one-page statement describing your skills, interests, and why you want to work at USIA and in the foreign affairs field. You should review information about USIA on this website.

If your application is accepted, you will receive a packet requesting further background information. All internships, for undergraduate or graduate students, are unpaid.

Send materials to:

USIA, M/HRCO - Volunteer Internships,
301 4th St. SW, Rm. 518
Washington DC 20547

You may also 'CC' a copy of your internship application to the Office of Public Liaison or a specific office at USIA.