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The '''United States Office of War Information (OWI)''' was a government agency created during [[World War II]] to consolidate government information services. Besides coordinating the release of war news for domestic use, the office established an overseas branch which launched a huge information and [[propaganda]] campaign abroad.  

The '''United States Office of War Information (OWI)''' was a government agency created during [[World War II]] to consolidate government information services. Besides coordinating the release of war news for domestic use, the office established an overseas branch which launched a huge information and [[propaganda]] campaign abroad.  

The OWI was established 13 June 1942 to consolidate the functions of the Office of Facts and Figures, the Office of Government Reports, the division of information of the Office for Emergency Management.  The Foreign Intelligence Service, Outpost, Publication, and Pictorial Branches of the Office of the Coordinator of Information were also transferred to the OWI.  (The Executive order creating OWI, however, stated that dissemination of information to the Latin American countries should be continued by the Office of the [[Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs]].) [[Elmer Davis]] was named director of OWI. Congressional opposition to the domestic operations of the OWI resulted in increasingly curtailed funds, and by 1944 the OWI operated mostly in the foreign field, contributing to undermining enemy morale. The agency was abolished in 1945, and its foreign functions were transferred to the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]].

The OWI was established 13 June 1942 to consolidate the functions of the Office of Facts and Figures, the Office of Government Reports, the division of information of the Office for Emergency Management.  The Foreign Intelligence Service, Outpost, Publication, and Pictorial Branches of the Office of the Coordinator of Information were also transferred to the OWI.  (The Executive order creating OWI, however, stated that dissemination of information to the Latin American countries should be continued by the Office of the [[Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs]].) [[Elmer Davis]] was named director of OWI. Congressional opposition to the domestic operations of the OWI resulted in increasingly curtailed funds, and by 1944 the OWI operated mostly in the foreign field, contributing to undermining enemy morale. The agency was abolished in 1945, and its foreign functions were transferred to the [[Department of State]].

Among its wide-ranging responsibilities, OWI sought to review and approve the design and content of government posters. OWI officials felt that the most urgent problem on the home front was the careless leaking of sensitive information that could be picked up by spies and saboteurs.

Among its wide-ranging responsibilities, OWI sought to review and approve the design and content of government posters. OWI officials felt that the most urgent problem on the home front was the careless leaking of sensitive information that could be picked up by spies and saboteurs.