A news room may contact the DSMA-Notice Secretary with information that they intend to publish or broadcast a story on matters covered by the DSMA-Notices, with a request for more specific advice on the sensitivity of certain details.
Officials may get in touch with the DSMA-Notice Secretary to raise a concern – e.g. an Intelligence Agency might become aware that a TV company has been filming activities that might compromise the work or safety of their agents.
The DSMA-Notice Secretary might, for example, learn that a book about the SAS is to be published.
When important national security issues emerge, bringing a heightened risk that the media might inadvertently publish or broadcast information which could damage national security, the Secretary writes to all UK editors alerting them to the risks and asking them to consider seeking his advice before releasing sensitive details.
When a newspaper or broadcast channel inadvertently releases information which might damage national security, the Secretary may contact the editor to point this out and offer advice on how further inadvertent damage might be avoided.