--- title: Division of News url: https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/04-division-of-news/ description: Division of News, from Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information by George Creel, Chairman, Committee on Public Information. section: FRAME --- ![Illustration: an interwar radio-and-newsreel intelligence collage with a 1930s map of Europe and propaganda poster proofs.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-interwar.jpg) [Library](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) · Report · [Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) # Division of News This text - **Work:** [Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/) - **Author:** George Creel, Chairman, Committee on Public Information - **Published:** 1920 Full details - **Rights:** A work of the United States government, printed by the Government Printing Office in 1920, so not protected by copyright in the United States (17 U.S.C. 105) and in the public domain by age as well. The Library of Congress states that it is unaware of any copyright restrictions on the item. Chapters 1. [Letter of Transmittal and General Survey](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/01-letter-of-transmittal-and-general-survey/) 2. Part I: The Domestic Section 3. [Work of the Domestic Section](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/02-work-of-the-domestic-section/) 4. [The Voluntary Censorship](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/03-the-voluntary-censorship/) 5. [Division of News](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/04-division-of-news/) 6. [Division of Civic and Educational Cooperation](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/05-division-of-civic-and-educational-cooperation/) 7. [Division of Production and Distribution](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/06-division-of-production-and-distribution/) 8. [Four Minute Men](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/07-four-minute-men/) 9. [The Speaking Division](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/08-the-speaking-division/) 10. [The Division of Advertising](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/09-the-division-of-advertising/) 11. [Film Division](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/10-film-division/) 12. [Bureau of Distribution of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/11-bureau-of-distribution-of-the-division-of-films/) 13. [Educational Department of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/12-educational-department-of-the-division-of-films/) 14. [Scenario Department of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/13-scenario-department-of-the-division-of-films/) 15. [Bureau of War Expositions of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/14-bureau-of-war-expositions-of-the-division-of-fil/) 16. [Bureau of War Photographs of the Division of Films](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/15-bureau-of-war-photographs-of-the-division-of-fil/) 17. [Official U. S. Bulletin](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/16-official-u-s-bulletin/) 18. [The Service Bureau](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/17-the-service-bureau/) 19. [Division of Exhibit at State Fairs](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/18-division-of-exhibit-at-state-fairs/) 20. [Division of Syndicate Features](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/19-division-of-syndicate-features/) 21. [Division of Women’s War Work](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/20-division-of-women-s-war-work/) 22. [The Bureau of Cartoons](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/21-the-bureau-of-cartoons/) 23. [Division of Business Management](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/22-division-of-business-management/) 24. [Division of Work with the Foreign Born](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/23-division-of-work-with-the-foreign-born/) 25. [Showing America to the Foreign Press](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/24-showing-america-to-the-foreign-press/) 26. Part II: The Foreign Section 27. [Work of the Foreign Section](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/25-work-of-the-foreign-section/) 28. [Wireless and Cable Service](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/26-wireless-and-cable-service/) 29. [Foreign Press Bureau](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/27-foreign-press-bureau/) 30. [Foreign Film Activities](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/28-foreign-film-activities/) 31. [Foreign Picture Service](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/29-foreign-picture-service/) 32. Reports from Foreign Commissioners 33. [Report on the Work in Mexico](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/30-report-on-the-work-in-mexico/) 34. [The Work in France](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/31-the-work-in-france/) 35. [The Work in Holland](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/32-the-work-in-holland/) 36. [Work in Switzerland](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/33-work-in-switzerland/) 37. [Work in Italy](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/34-work-in-italy/) 38. [Work in Spain](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/35-work-in-spain/) 39. [Work in Denmark](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/36-work-in-denmark/) 40. [Work in Russia: General Introduction](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/37-work-in-russia-general-introduction/) 41. [Work in Russia: The Installation](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/38-work-in-russia-the-installation/) 42. [Work in Russia: Siberian Activities](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/39-work-in-russia-siberian-activities/) 43. [Work in Russia: Archangel](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/40-work-in-russia-archangel/) 44. [The Work in China](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/41-the-work-in-china/) 45. [Work in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/42-work-in-argentina-uruguay-and-paraguay/) 46. [Work in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/43-work-in-peru-ecuador-and-bolivia/) 47. [Other Work in South America](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/44-other-work-in-south-america/) 48. [Work in Sweden and Norway](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/45-work-in-sweden-and-norway/) [← The Voluntary Censorship](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/03-the-voluntary-censorship/) [Division of Civic and Educational Cooperation →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/05-division-of-civic-and-educational-cooperation/) **Content note:** Quotes wartime anti-German language, including "Hun", and period terms for racial and national groups. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) A first duty of the committee, as we saw it, was the coordination and control of the daily news of military operations given out by the war-making branches of Government. The work was soon turned over to the Division of News, which became the sole medium for the issuance of official war information, and acted not only for the Army and Navy, but for the White House, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, the National War Labor Board, the Council of National Defense, the War Industries Board, the War Trade Board, and the Alien Property Custodian. It had its sworn representatives in the war-making branches of the Government, trained newspaper men whose duty was to open up operations to the inspection of the people. The committee believed that public support was a matter of public understanding, and it became the duty of the division to take deadwood out of the channels of information, permitting a freer, more continuous flow. This was not the simplest thing in the world. On one hand was the press, impatient of reticence and suspicious of concealments, and on the other hand were generals and admirals reared in a school of iron silence. Both, however, grew in understanding. The press finally realized our honesty of purpose, and the military experts came to have an increasing faith in the power of absolute frankness. The Army and Navy, through this Division of News, pledged themselves to give to the people instant and honest announcement of all casualties, all accidents, all disasters. We did not have to conceal reverses because we did not have to fear for the courage of America. All the official news of government, with direct relation to the war, went to the people through the Division of News. The Pershing communiques, the weekly press interviews with Gen. March, Chief of Staff, and daily interviews with Secretary of War Baker were other regular news features issued in mimeographed form. Preparation of the daily casualty lists for the newspapers was one of the duties of the News Division. Originally these lists were issued for immediate release, but as the totals swelled to such a point that the taslv of carrying them on the telegraph wires became too great an arrangement was made at the request of the press associations by which the lists were printed and mailed to newspapers with a five-day release date. This system meant no delay in the notification of relatives, who received word by telegraph from The Adjutant General's Office several days in advance of publication in the newspapers. During the latter part of its existence the News Division took over the preparation of a nightly review of the news of the world for transmission by wireless to the vessels of the Navy in all waters, as well as to all transports in passage. The division also acted as a reference bureau in connection Avith the voluntary censorship, advising and interpreting the Government's requests. The News Division also issued a weekly digest of war news for country weeklies. Country dailies also asked to be put on this list, which grew to more than 12,000. At any intimation that this matter was not desired, the paper was removed from the mailing list and by this and other checking we were able to keep a more or less careful watch on the extent to which the service was used. It ran as high as 6,000 columns a week. Some 2,000 newspapers throughout the country were served by wire association. An extremely conservative estimate placed our average daily figure with these at one column per newspaper per day, or 12,000 columns per week, not including the mass of our stuff which was printed first-hand in Sunday newspapers and worked into mosaics for feature stories. Nor did this include the large number of newspaper and magazine stories for which we supplied data exclusively to a writer or correspondent who brought in the idea of the story he wanted, nor the vast amount of time spent in clearing the way for them to get first-hand such information as they required. Reckoned solely on the basis of mimeographed matter issued by the News Division, 20,000 columns per week was an extremely conservative estimate of the use made of the service by the press of America. A special and painstaking effort was made to present the facts without the slightest trace of color or bias, either in the selection of the facts to be made public or in the manner in which they were presented. Thus the News Division set forth in exactly the same colorless style the remarkable success of the Browning guns on the one hand and on the other the facts of bad health conditions in three or four of our large camps. Every precaution was exercised also to guard against misstatements. Manuscript of articles prepared by employees of the committee were invariably submitted for approval to the department chief from which the information emanated. In cases where a subordinate furnished the information one of the heads of the department also approved it. No possible check as to accuracy was omitted. The effectiveness of the system is proved by the fact that while over 6,000 releases were issued in the year and a half of operation, only three were ever questioned. As two of the attacks were without honest foundation, the record of the News Division stands as one mistake in 6,000 instances. No news organization in the world equals, or even approaches, this record of painstaking accuracy established by a war organization hastily assembled and driven at all times under tremendous pressure. Mr. J. W. McConaughy was director of the Division of News until sent to Central America, at which time Mr. Leigh Eeilly took up the work, carrying it forward with the same faith, devotion and brilliance. From first to last, the division never closed doors, remaining open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a clearing house for Government news, a service bureau to the press. [← The Voluntary Censorship](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/03-the-voluntary-censorship/) [Division of Civic and Educational Cooperation →](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/05-division-of-civic-and-educational-cooperation/) Complete Report of the Chairman of the Committee on Public Information, George Creel, Chairman, Committee on Public Information. A work of the United States government, printed by the Government Printing Office in 1920, so not protected by copyright in the United States (17 U.S.C. 105) and in the public domain by age as well. The Library of Congress states that it is unaware of any copyright restrictions on the item. [Provenance and rights](https://propagandaarchive.org/library/creel-cpi-complete-report-1920/).