[austincheney]

That isn't accurate. In a modern military the role of interfacing with an external public is divided into three distinct roles:

* public relations

* civil affairs

* psychological operations

Public relations' job is to interface with media and community leaders where the military is an established asset. This means in area where the military is not conducting active (non-training) military operations.

Civil affairs' interface with media and civilian leaders in areas where the military is conducting active (non-training) operations. This may include areas where the military is operating in a peace keeping or humanitarian capacity. This communications responsibility may be more diplomatic or business oriented in nature and focuses on welfare and humane needs of a supported civilian population.

Psychological operations operates against a military enemy.

It is the job of all three roles to provide some amount of influence and general information. The public relations and civil affairs are far more restrictive in the information they provide, almost as if in a journalistic capacity. Psychological operations will provide any information as helpful to win military engagements and is primarily restricted by military tactical conditions.

It is best not to intermix or confuse those 3 separate communications roles, because the overlap between them is extremely limited.