Guidance

Contact with the media and communicating in public

Published 1 October 2026

Purpose and scope

This Defence Instruction Notice:

• explains the restrictions that apply to MOD personnel in relation to contact with the media and communication in public
• contains instructions as to the approval process that must be followed in cases where prior authorisation is required
• replaces 2025DIN03-005

The DIN draws a distinction between official and non-official communication (as defined below), explains when and why prior authorisation is required, sets out the legal justification for restrictions and signposts other relevant policies that may apply to contact with the media and/or communications in public.

This DIN should be read alongside the Civil Service Code of Conduct; single-Service Values and Standards; King’s Regulations, JSP 440 The Defence Manual of Security; JSP 579 Defence Guide for Factual, Scripted and Creative Media Projects and JSP 492 Defence Ethics, Propriety and Standards (for issues related to Raising a Concern as well as guidance on Gifts, Rewards and Hospitality).

Applicability

This instruction applies to Regulars, Reservists, MOD civil servants, and Defence contractors. In this instruction, they are collectively described as MOD personnel.

Communication in public does not include communication with Parliamentarians. For contact with Parliamentarians, including constituency MPs, consult the current Defence Instruction Notice on that subject.

Subject to the exclusions below, this instruction covers any communication in public and contact with the media. This includes interviews with traditional or digital media, speeches, panels, podcasts, publications, blogs, books, and magazine articles.

Digital media includes internet-based communication accessed through computers or mobile devices, including social media, blogs, online forums, and podcasts.

Personal use of social media

Personal use of social media is not covered by this instruction. Personnel must instead follow the relevant single-Service or Military Command policy and, for civil servants, the Civil Service Code.

Personal use of social media is a sub-set of communications in public that gives rise to particular issues which are addressed in other Single Service/Military Command policies dedicated to the topic, as well as the Civil Service Code of Conduct. Accordingly, this DIN does not apply to personal use of social media and personnel should consult the aforementioned sources for policy and guidance in that regard.

Key definitions

Official communication

Engagement or communication with the media or otherwise in public where the individual is speaking on behalf of the MOD or their service. Examples of official communication include but are not limited to, a formal speech, participation on a panel of experts, an official interview, commentary given in an official capacity.

Non-official communication

Engagement or communication in public in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the MOD. There are many different types of non-official communication and they may be paid or unpaid. Examples include:

Where the subject matter relates entirely to non-Defence activities/interests (e.g. sport, hobbies, charity work).

Where the subject matter does have some connection with experience/skills obtained in the course of service life but where the engagement is nevertheless, undertaken in a personal capacity rather than as a spokesperson for the MOD, for example SP taking part in a podcast as a subject matter expert on cold weather survival.

Where the engagement does not concern any particular subject matter, but personnel are identifiable by their rank or service, e.g. appearance on a TV game show.

Raising a concern/whistleblowing within the meaning of the Raising a Concern policy in JSP 492, via external/public channels. While the subject matter of communication is likely to involve Defence topics or matters related to an individual’s work/workplace, it is self-evident that personnel who are raising a concern are speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the MOD in an official capacity.

Whenever personnel are engaging in non-official communication, they should be aware of, and take steps to mitigate, the risk that they will be perceived as an official spokesperson for the MOD. This may happen inadvertently, such as where an engagement, or the matter of the engagement, unexpectedly moves from a personal context to a Defence issue. For example, a SP being interviewed about their charity work, or appearing on a TV game show, may be asked about matters relating to their Defence role. Likewise, the SP contributing to a podcast as a subject matter expert on cold weather survival may be perceived to be speaking authoritatively about MOD training methods or equipment.

Legal and policy framework

Official communication

When MOD personnel engage in official communication, prior authorisation is always required. This is to ensure that a range of legitimate interests are protected including operational security (‘OPSEC’), personal security (‘PERSEC’), political impartiality and operational effectiveness, and to maintain coherence of the Department’s public narrative.

Non-official communication

Though non-official communication involves personnel speaking in a personal capacity, there may be occasions where it is necessary and proportionate for the Department to impose restrictions, provided such restrictions are capable of justification pursuant to Article 10(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which states that:

‘The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder of crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary’.

Any restrictions must additionally comply with Article 8 (Right to respect for private and family life) which states:

‘Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right, except such as in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others’.

Legal obligations

In any event, at all times when communicating with the media or otherwise in public, all personnel remain obliged to comply with other legal obligations including but not limited to, those imposed by the Official Secrets Act 1989 and laws regarding data protection and defamation.

Political impartiality

In accordance with King’s Regulations for the RN, Army and RAF, service personnel must not engage in party-political activity in a way that uses, or appears to use, their official position, uniform, or access for political means. Political neutrality supports public confidence and discipline; where commentary risks undermining these interests and ultimately the operational effectiveness of the armed forces, proportionate restrictions may be justified by reference to the legitimate aims identified in Article 10(2): Civil Servants must comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct regarding political impartiality.

Security risks

All personnel, particularly those in protected categories such as Special Forces, aircrew, submariners, and the intelligence community, must consider the increased personal and family security risks arising from media identification. Names, images, insignia, voices, and metadata can contribute to a pattern of life that may be exploited for targeting, intimidation, or hostile-state activity. Consult JSP 440 for guidance.

When prior authorisation is required

Official communication

All official communication must be authorised in advance through the process set out under Approval process. This is to ensure a single, accurate and accountable MOD position. This restriction safeguards ministerial accountability, prevents conflicting or misleading public messaging that could undermine operational effectiveness and is lawful and proportionate having regard to legitimate aims under Article 10(2).

Paid appearances

Where personnel are receiving payment for any appearance in public or speaking engagement, they should consult JSP 492 (Defence Ethics, Property and Standards) and where personnel are receiving payment in respect of contact with the media or communication in public, they must seek authorisation from their chain of command in advance of engagement.

‘Payment’ includes any payment in cash or in kind (including gift, fee, honorarium, sponsorship, benefits, hospitality, or other reward) provided in return for an individual’s time and participation. Such engagements include, but are not limited to, paid speeches, panels, podcasts, or publications, and appearances on TV game shows or similar. Chain of command should consult JSP 492 (sections on Gifts, Rewards, and Hospitality), JSP 579, and the relevant media organisation.

Permission may be refused or made subject to conditions where necessary proportionate to pursure legitimate aims under Article 10(2), having regarded the need in particular, to: (i) prevent security risks (OPSEC/PERSEC) or the disclosure of sensitive/official information; (ii) protect the rights and reputations of others (e.g., avoid defamation, privacy breaches, or prejudice to ongoing investigations); (iii) maintain good order, discipline, and impartial delivery of Defence business (e.g. avoid perceived endorsement of political positions or partisan activity); and (iv) manage conflicts of interest or commercial associations inconsistent with Defence standards.

This paragraph does not apply to communications made for the purposes of raising a concern/whistleblowing, as to which paragraph 21 below applies.

When prior authorisation is not required

In the context of non-official communication, there is a risk of MOD personnel being perceived as a de facto official spokesperson for the MOD, in particular where an individual’s Service status, role, rank, trade or unit is highlighted or where the individual is asked to comment on matters that are closely connected to service life.

This may create confusion as to whether the individual is authorised to speak for the MOD and has the potential to generate inconsistent or misleading impressions of MOD policy or capability and/or undermine, public confidence, internal cohesion, and operational effectiveness.

Relevant factors to consider when assessing the ‘perceived spokesperson’ risk include, but are not limited to:

• The individual being introduced by rank, role, unit or as ‘MOD/Armed Forces’;
• The subject matter touching on Defence, operations, capability, personnel policy, service justice, or other Defence/government matters;
• The use of uniform, MOD insignia, official imagery, or Service-associated branding;
• The format (broadcast, high-profile podcast, commercial platform, live audience) and anticipated reach;
• Whether the engagement invites ‘off the cuff’/spontaneous commentary beyond the stated topic;
• Whether the individual’s Service identity is being used as a credential to enhance authority or credibility.

Examples of non-official communication in which the risk is likely to materialise are as follows:

• A podcast billed around ‘life in the armed forces’ in which the guest is asked about Defence policy or current operations;
• A televised game show or commercial appearance where the participant is repeatedly described as serving military personnel and invited to comment on service experiences in a way likely to be taken as representative;
• A panel discussion at a think tank where the individual is marketed as having ‘MOD/Service’ expertise and asked to address current Defence issues.

While pre-authorisation is not required for unpaid non-official communication, MOD personnel must inform chain of command in advance of the engagement in cases where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of being perceived as a de facto official spokesperson.

This is to ensure that personnel are appropriately briefed through chain of command and made aware of the likely outcomes/implications of appearing in public. Chains of command must seek advice from DDC and/or the relevant Military Command media organisation.

This paragraph does not apply to communications made for the purposes of raising a concern/whistleblowing.

Raising a concern or whistleblowing

Raising a concern or whistleblowing via external/public channels does not require prior authorisation. However, personnel must consult the Raising a Concern JSP492 which contains comprehensive guidance as to the processes and procedures applicable to raising a concern, including the circumstances in which public disclosures of information of this kind may/may not attract legal protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (‘PIDA’) and/or MOD policy as a ‘protected disclosure’.

It will usually be obvious that personnel making a whistleblowing disclosure in a public forum are not speaking as an official spokesperson for the MOD, however, they should seek to mitigate any risk that they must be perceived as such, having regard to the factors highlighted in paragraph 18 above.

The fact that prior authorisation is not required before making a whistleblowing disclosure in a public forum does not prevent disciplinary action being taken against personnel in appropriate cases where the disclosure concerned is not deemed to be a protected disclosure.

Speaking for a trade union or professional body

Permission is not required where Civil Servants acting in an official Trade Union capacity (and/or the limited number of Service personnel holding formal, recognised positions in professional bodies) are communicating on behalf of those bodies. Personnel should consult the relevant body and continue to comply with legal, security, privacy, and impartiality obligations.

Approval process

Personnel at 1-star rank or grade and above, and activity involving national media

Approval from the Directorate of Defence Communications central team is required for:

• communication with national media by personnel of any rank or grade;
• communication at a public event where national media may be present; and
• public communication by personnel at 1-star rank or grade and above, whether or not media are expected.

Submit the designated request form at least 14 days in advance. Submissions are reviewed weekly and should be submitted by 4pm on Wednesday. Urgent requests may be considered in exceptional circumstances. For guidance, email DDC Secretariat Clearances.

Personnel at OF5 or equivalent civil service grade and below

Where national media are not involved, the parent Service manages requests from personnel at OF5 or equivalent civil service grade and below. If the individual serves in a joint environment or outside their parent Service, the employing organisation should also be consulted where necessary.

Royal Navy

Individuals should consult their chain of command prior to obtaining permission from Head Strategy and Reputation, RN Comms and Influence.

British Army

After obtaining permission from their chain of command, individuals are to complete the Army C&E - Application to Participate in a Public Engagement.

Royal Air Force

Consult the chain of command and Media and Communications Officer before seeking permission from Assistant Head Air Media and Communications.

Civil Service

Civil servants should consult the Military Command or area in which they serve. Civil servants in joint organisations should consult the Directorate of Defence Communications and follow the 1-star process.

Records and further advice

Personnel who are unsure how to manage a request should email DDC Secretariat Clearances. The Directorate of Defence Communications and Military Command media organisations must retain complete records of all requests, including requests that are refused.

Compliance

Failure to comply with this instruction, or with a lawful and legitimate restriction imposed under it, may amount to a failure to comply with standing orders and may result in administrative or disciplinary action. Any response must be necessary and proportionate, taking account of Convention rights, context, intent, harm, and mitigation.

Annex A: Quick reference matrix

Requirements for different types of public communication

Activity	Permission required	Approver or action	Indicative lead time	Key points
Official communication	Yes	Directorate of Defence Communications for 1-star and above or national media; relevant Service media organisation for OF5 and below	14 days	Speaking lines, operational security, personal security, and political neutrality
Paid engagement	Yes	Chain of command	At least 14 days	Conflicts of interest, branding, uniform, hospitality, and safeguarding
Risk of being perceived as an official spokesperson	No	Inform the chain of command and obtain advice from the relevant media organisation	Not applicable	Official-spokesperson risk, personal security, and privacy
Raising a concern or whistleblowing	No	Consult the raising-a-concern policy in JSP 492	Not applicable	Protected routes; security and privacy obligations continue to apply
Speaking for a trade union or professional body	No	Consult the relevant trade union or professional body	Not applicable	Operational security, personal security, privacy, and impartiality

Related information

• Civil Service Code
• European Convention on Human Rights
• JSP 440: The Defence Manual of Security
• JSP 492: Defence Ethics, Propriety and Standards
• JSP 579: Defence Guide for Factual, Scripted and Creative Media Projects
• Current single-Service social-media policies