The Department of Public Information (DPI) was established in 1946, by General Assembly resolution 13 (I), to promote global awareness and understanding of the work of the United Nations. DPI undertakes this goal through radio, television, print, the Internet, video-conferencing and other media tools, such as social media.

The Department reports annually on its work to the UN General Assembly’s Committee on Information. The Committee, which meets once a year, is responsible for overseeing the work of DPI and for providing it guidance on policies, programmes and activities of the Department.

DPI’s Mission

The Department of Public Information is dedicated to communicating the ideals and work of the United Nations to the world; to interacting and partnering with diverse audiences; and to building support for peace, development and human rights for all. Inform. Engage. Act.

Divisions

Strategic Communications Division

The Strategic Communications Division formulates communications strategies on priority issues and launches global campaigns. The Division also manages the network of 63 United Nations Information Centres and offices around the world.

News & Media Division

The News and Media Division tells the UN story through television, radio and the Internet and builds partnerships with other news organizations and new media platforms to raise awareness about the UN’s goals and highlight its successes.

Outreach Division 

The Outreach Division engages a wide range of audiences including academia, civil society, the entertainment industry, educators and students to encourage support for the ideals and activities of the United Nations. DPI/Outreach Division also hosts the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.

Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Mission

The Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General plans the Secretary-General’s media related activities and briefs journalists on a daily basis. To explain the policies and work of the Organization to the world’s media, the Office:

  • provides daily briefings, interviews and background discussion (for this purpose, receiving guidance from the Office of the Secretary-General, as well as information from other offices, funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations system);
  • advises the Secretary-General on relations with the media;
  • schedules his/her press interviews;
  • travels with the Secretary-General and speaks to the media on his/her behalf.

The Spokesman’s Office, administered by DPI, reports directly to the Secretary-General.

On 1 December, 2009, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Martin Nesirky of the United Kingdom as his Spokesperson.

Mr. Nesirky brings to this position more than 20 years of experience in journalism, media relations and international affairs. He comes to the United Nations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, where he has served for more than three years as Spokesperson and Head of Press and Public Information.

Mr. Nesirky has also served for more than two decades as an international correspondent and editor for Reuters. He was Reuters Bureau Chief in Moscow, and was also posted in Berlin, The Hague, and Seoul, as well as working as a senior editor in London handling global political news stories.

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