The government of Abelardo de la Espriella has officially enacted a directive establishing new protocols for communication with the media. As of September 3, ministers and other high officials must coordinate and consult with the Office of Communications and Press of the Presidency before conducting interviews or making statements.
The directive outlines the guidelines for institutional communication from various national entities over the next four years. All announcements, decisions, and outcomes of the administration must be disseminated through the appropriate official channels, such as the Presidency and the ministries. “Information related to decisions, announcements, public policies, programs, outcomes, figures, administrative actions, and other matters pertaining to the management of the national government will primarily be disseminated through the official institutional channels of the Presidency of the Republic, the ministries, administrative departments, and/or other entities of the National Executive Branch,” the document emphasizes.
The regulation specifies that personal accounts of officials are not considered official sources and that institutional channels must be used to communicate decisions related to their functions. Additionally, it mandates that entities must authorize accounts that will perform institutional spokesperson functions, which cannot be controlled by officials after they leave office.
Ministers and other representatives of the administration may provide interviews or make statements, as long as they consult in advance with the Office. The directive also prohibits the use of public resources to fund unofficial personal profiles.
In emergency situations, the Presidency will be responsible for coordinating the official dissemination of significant announcements. This includes cases of disasters or when multiple entities are involved. The aim is to avoid confusion, irregularities, and ensure the delivery of complete and clear information.
The communication offices of the entities must maintain continuous contact with the Office to strengthen tools for media and citizen engagement. The directive emphasizes principles such as transparency, truthfulness, and clarity. This development comes after the release of a document revealing a controversial exchange between the government’s communication teams.
Source: www.infobae.com
