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The Press and Information Office
of the Federal Government,

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or BPA for short, is a service provider
for democracy.

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Through their work, the BPA team

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provide information on Federal Government policies

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to members of the public and the media.

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They present
the Federal Government’s plans,

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explaining how decisions were taken
and the impact they will make.

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People in Germany

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keep up-to-date on politics
in a wide range of ways,

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and digital media now plays a leading role.

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This has also brought about major changes
for the work of the BPA.

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It has used social media
for a long time

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as a way of sharing information.

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Steffen Hebestreit,
Government Spokesperson and head of the BPA:

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Democracy thrives when everyone can participate,

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and information is the decisive vehicle

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for us to be able to make our voices heard
in an informed way.

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The most prominent part of the BPA’s work
is providing information,

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creating transparency around the work
of the Federal Government,

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its decisions, calculations, and assessments.

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Around 500 staff in Berlin and Bonn
dedicate themselves to this

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every day.

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Some work here in the
Digital Editorial department.

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They are a team of editors,

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photographers,

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graphic designers, and video experts

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who ensure that information
is presented

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in an interesting, clear,
and comprehensible way,

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so it can be shared with
members of the public

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in a variety of ways and
across many different channels.

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Steffen Hebestreit,
Government Spokesperson and head of the BPA:

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We have to reach people where they are.

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For example, we use Instagram Stories
to give people an insight

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into the Federal Chancellor’s
trips around Germany and the rest of the world.

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We produce explainer videos
and illustrations.

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We also write more detailed
background articles

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and even compile photo series.

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It’s all about information –

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people are switched on everywhere
and we want a presence everywhere, too.

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The Federal Press Office produces the

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“CHANCELLOR COMPACT” videos.

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These allow the Federal Chancellor
to talk directly to members of the public.

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Federal Chancellor: How can we
ensure a good future

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for people in Ukraine?

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posted on Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter, Mastodon,

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YouTube and bundesregierung.de

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Tours of the BPA
allow visitors

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to experience Berlin
and federal government politics for themselves.

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These are organised on behalf of
the Members of the German Bundestag.

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Around 100,000 visitors
come every year.

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In addition this,
the Federal Press Office takes part in

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the annual
Federal Government Open Door Day

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and looks forward to welcoming visitors
from all across Germany.

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The “Federal Chancellor CONVERSATIONS”
are a chance

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to ask questions
and discuss issues in person

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in a series of public discussions

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organised by the BPA across
the whole of Germany.

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Federal Chancellor: I’m delighted we were able
to have a great conversation this evening

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and I promise
there will be more of them. Thank you very much.

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Welcome to the Federal Government telephone information service.

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Members of the public can also

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ask questions about
Federal Government issues

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just as easily
by email, post, or phone.

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The Citizens Service
is based at the BPA’s Bonn office,

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where they respond to hundreds
of enquires every week.

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The team at the Bonn office

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also look after the Federal Government
publications portal.

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The portal provides free access
for members of the public

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to a selection of around
5,000 brochures, flyers, and magazines

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on all Federal Government topics,
where they can search,

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download, or order copies.

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Journalists from all over the world

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report on Germany,

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and that includes the Federal Chancellor
and the Federal Government.

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The Federal Press Office is
a key point of contact.

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Senior staff at the Office
are available around the clock

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to respond to journalists’ questions.

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In addition, Federal Government spokespersons

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also attend the Federal Government press conferences

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which are held three times a week

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at the invitation of Berlin correspondents.

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Christiane Hoffmann,
Deputy Government Spokesperson:

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For me as a spokesperson,

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the press conference

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is a very valuable opportunity
to explain what the Federal Government is doing.

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That means providing
more context and detail

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about government decisions
and policies.

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We use the press conference
to announce cabinet decisions,

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and important dates.
The most important thing for us

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is responding to journalists' questions.

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We prepare for the Government Press Conference

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by discussing specific issues here at the BPA,

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working on the day's top stories with our colleagues

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and experts from relevant departments.

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The Government spokespersons

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can call on experts for support

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on issues ranging from foreign policy
to healthcare and the economy.

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They are always up-to-date

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and coordinate with the Chancellery
to prepare the information.

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Christiane Hoffmann,
Deputy Government Spokesperson:

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Every Friday we share
an overview

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of the Federal Chancellor’s schedule
for the coming week.

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The media is always particularly
interested in the Federal Chancellor’s schedule.

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Press officers make sure

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that journalists have good working conditions.

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For example, they organise
press conferences

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and provide good positions
for photography and video.

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For the Federal President,
the Federal Chancellor

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and ministers, keeping up
with the news cycle

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is of critical importance.

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This gives rise to another key function
of the Federal Press Office:

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Wolfgang Büchner,
Deputy Government Spokesperson:

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The Federal Press Office does more
than provide information to the public

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about Federal Government policies.

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We also share information internally.

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For example, we have developed

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our own information platform,
the Newscenter,

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which allows us to access
hundreds of sources.

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Thousands of agency reports,
dozens of magazines and newspapers,

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websites, podcasts, radio,
and TV reports are analysed and

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categorised by topic – from every source
and all in one place.

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This means the Federal Government
always has the most up-to-date information

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and can respond to
new events.

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The Federal Chancellor also receives
his own dossier

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of articles and opinion pieces
from newspapers and online media:

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we call it the Chancellor File.

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It provides the Federal Chancellor
with a wide-ranging overview of the news.

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The BPA informs members of the government
about particularly important events

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by text message.

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Explaining policies
and informing the public about government activity:

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this will continue to be
the most important work

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for the Federal Press Office team.