Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 5120.04
March 17, 2015
Incorporating Change 1, November 20, 2017
ATSD(PA)
SUBJECT: DoD Newspapers, Magazines, Guides, and Installation Maps
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5122.05
(Reference (a)), this instruction reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5120.4 (Reference (b)) to
establish policy, assign responsibilities, and prescribe procedures for establishing and managing
the publication of authorized DoD newspapers, magazines, guides, and installation maps
(referred to collectively in this instruction as “DoD publications”) to support the DoD command
information program.
2. APPLICABILITY. This instruction:
a. Applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands (CCMDs), the Defense Agencies, the
DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to
collectively in this instruction as the “DoD Components”).
b. Does not apply to the Stars and Stripes (S&S) newspapers and business operations. S&S
guidance is provided in DoDD 5122.11 (Reference (c)).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. A free flow of news and information will be provided to all DoD personnel without
censorship or news management and in accordance with this instruction. The calculated
withholding of news unfavorable to the DoD is prohibited.
b. All printing using appropriated funds will be obtained in accordance with DoDI 5330.03
(Reference (d)).
/
c. DoD newspapers or magazines may be funded by authorized DoD appropriations or
produced using the civilian enterprise (CE) concept in which the costs to produce and distribute
the DoD publication are borne by a CE publisher in exchange for the right to circulate
advertising. Guides and installation maps are produced using the CE concept.
