You want to keep up with the newest developments in areas that affect people’s lives - health, children, homes, diets, finances. How do you get up-to-the-minute news?

You're working on a story about a government program or issue, or you want to interview a government spokesperson. How do you find the right place to call?

You've got very limited space, but you want to give your readers a source for more information. Where can you direct them?

The answer to all of these questions is to call the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) Media Hotline at (202) 501-1794. We're available between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If we can’t answer your questions immediately, we'll research them and call back promptly with your answers. And we'll do everything we can to meet your deadline!

FCIC also offers the following free media services:

• Access to all updates on federal programs, services and benefits and all of the latest consumer news through FirstGov.gov, Pueblo.gsa.gov and FCIC's online press room;
• The quarterly Consumer Information Catalog;
• Review copies of any of the 200 Federal publications listed in the Catalog;
• A listing of the most popular publications in the Catalog;
• Counts of publication requests received as a result of major media mentions;
• "New for Consumers" releases for newspapers and magazines;
• Public service advertisements for print, television, and radio.

What Is the Federal Citizen Information Center?

Since 1970, the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services. Consumers can get the information they need through printed publications, by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO, and through information posted on FCIC’s family of websites including: www.firstgov.gov, www.pueblo.gsa.gov, www.kids.gov, and www.consumeraction.gov.

FCIC maintains close ties with more than 100 different federal offices, agencies and departments, as well as many consumer and trade organizations. Call the FCIC media staff at (202) 501-1794 and we can help you find the right contacts at these agencies and organizations quickly.

1 (800) FED-INFO

FCIC manages a toll-free national contact center with specially trained staff to answer questions in English and Spanish about all aspects of the Federal government. Your audience can get help by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

FirstGov.gov

As the “Front Door” to government information, services, and transactions, FirstGov.gov is a great resource for you and your readers. This site pulls together more than 26 million federal web pages in addition to 16 million state and local government pages. Here, citizens can get easy-to-understand information and services from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pueblo.gsa.gov

A great way to keep up-to-date on the latest consumer news is through FCIC's web site, www.pueblo.gsa.gov. The site features a library of "New for Consumers" press releases, which are discussed below. You can find all of the latest consumer information you need in our online press room. Additional features including the latest product recalls and scams, updates of consumer news from various Federal agencies, and a calendar of consumer-related events are also available. On FCIC's site, visitors can read, print out, or save the current Catalog and the full text of all the publications listed.

Kids.gov

Kids.gov is the official interagency children’s portal to the U.S. government. The site features more than 400 kid-friendly links in one easy-to-find place.

ConsumerAction.gov

ConsumerAction.gov features the full text of the Consumer Action Handbook. The Handbook offers tips on topics such as buying and leasing cars, protecting your privacy, and shopping from home. It also includes links to hundreds of Better Business Bureaus, corporate consumer contacts, and state, local and county consumer agencies.

Consumer Information Catalog

The Consumer Information Catalog is the way that many people learn about booklets available from Pueblo, Colorado 81009. The free Catalog is published quarterly, and it lists more than 200 free and low-cost federal booklets on everything from employment to health, money management to housing, food to childcare. Your audience can get a free copy by calling toll free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256) or by visiting www.pueblo.gsa.gov. Or, send their names and addresses to: Consumer Information Catalog, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

Resources in Spanish

FCIC also publishes the Lista de publicaciones federales en español para el consumidor, which gives ordering information for nearly 200 free federal publications available in Spanish. Your audience can get a free copy by writing to Lista, Pueblo, Colorado 81009, or calling 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that’s 1-888-878-3256).

Complimentary Review Copies of Booklets

Members of the media can order complimentary review copies of both free and sales publications. To request copies of specific publications, call the Media Hotline at (202) 501-1794 or fax (202) 501-4281.

“New for Consumers” Releases

FCIC regularly sends “New for Consumers” news releases to print, web and broadcast outlets. The releases highlight the great information available from FirstGov.gov, 1 (800) FED INFO, and pueblo.gsa.gov as well as give tips from publications listed in the quarterly Catalog. A "New for Consumers" release can be used to offer a publication to your audience, or the substantive information in the release can be incorporated into a column or feature story. Many Action Line columnists use these releases to answer readers’ questions. For selected major articles in large circulation newspapers or magazines, FCIC can give your promotion a unique address and count the number of orders your story generates. You can choose to have paper copies of our "New for Consumers" releases mailed to you, or you can receive them electronically via FCIC's Media E-mail List.

Public Service Advertisements

The Federal Citizen Information Center produces public service advertising for television, radio and print media. The PSAs motivate consumers to visit FCIC’s family of web sites, including FirstGov.gov and pueblo.gsa.gov, or call 1 (800) FED INFO. The TV and radio campaigns are professionally produced to be entertaining as well as informative, usually with a humorous theme. The TV spots are available in 60, 30, 20, 15, and 10 second lengths and on ¾", 1", Beta SP and DVC Pro tapes. Radio spots are available on CDs in 60, 30, 10 second lengths. The eye-catching print ads come in 20 different sizes, ranging from one-half column inch to a full page as well as digest sizes. FCIC can satisfy any special printing or electronic requirements for print ads.

Special Addresses for the Media

The Federal Citizen Information Center maintains a variety of special addresses to help speed the processing of orders received in Pueblo. The addresses given in the “New for Consumers” releases and in the “Federal Consumer Focus” scripts are set up especially for media-generated orders.

The addresses listed in the Consumer Information Catalog are for booklets ordered on the Catalog order blank only. If you plan to list one or more booklets from the Catalog, please call the Media Hotline at (202) 501-1794 to get the correct address and to make sure FCIC's distribution facility in Pueblo has enough copies of the publication to meet your audience's needs.

This service is provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration. If you have a comment or question, e-mail us.