I was hired by the CIA Directorate of Intelligence as a media specialist during 1986. Among many other things, I daily scanned hours of videotaped English-language television news looking at coverage, interviews, or features on global issues such as terrorism, hostages, narco-traffickers, Libya, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, etc. If I found something of interest, I would contact CIA offices to determine if they were interested in viewing it. I was the zealot for real-time video as intelligence.
A guy from Directorate of Operations (DO) would visit asking for things like “I need footage of a guy under a streetlight”, or “people walking down a dark alley.” I had a pretty good ability to recall anything I saw so I was able to fill their requests. One day, I got a call from the DO asking me to come over to talk to the chief of a unit. A month later, and one year exactly to the day I entered on duty with the CIA, I became a propaganda officer in television and visual media. I was the only one (maybe the first with a degree in broadcasting and film?).
My very first conversation with a new colleague was as I stood outside the vaulted door waiting for someone to show up and open it. When they did, I got a cold stare from the person who asked, “who are you?” It was a good start.
If you read my very first book Secret Wars: An Espionage Story, you will find many references to these offices.