Using FBIS and JPRS
Foreign Broadcast Information Service Reports (FBIS)
This CIA series consists of translations of foreign radio and television broadcasts (prior to 1996) and other foreign publications (after 1996) from many parts of the world. For various foreign publications prior to 1996, see Joint Publications Research Service (JPRS). FBIS began in 1941 (U.S. Federal Communications Service) and was transferred to the CIA in 1947.
We have access to FBIS reports via:
FBIS reports in microfiche
bq. 1978 – 1996 (Docs Microfiche PREX 7.10: area – nos). {Paper Indexes for 1978-1992.}
Areas covered in the FBIS reports are:
Africa
SSA — January 1978 – March 1980
MEA — (Middle East and Africa) 1981- May 1987
AFR — Changed to Africa (Sub-Sahara) June 1987 – Aug. 1996
Asia and Pacific
APA — January 1978 – May 1987
EAS — Titled changed to East Asia, June 1987 – Aug. 1996
SAS — South Asia, 1980 – 1987
NES — Near East and South Asia, 1987 – 1996
China
CHI — Peoples Republic of China 1978 – 1981; Title changed to China, 1981 – July 1996
Eurasia, Central (Central Eurasia)
SOV – December, 1991 – August, 1996; For 1978 – 1991, see Soviet Union
Europe, Eastern (Eastern Europe)
EEU — January 1978 – Aug. 1996
Europe, Western (Western Europe)
WEU — February 1981 – Feb. 1996
Latin America
LAT — January 1978 – August 1978
LAM — September 1978 – May 1987
LAT — Changed back June 1987 – July 1996
Middle East and North Africa
MEA or MENA — January 1978 – May 1987
See Near East and South Asia
Near East and South Asia
Earlier title: Middle East and North Africa
NES — June 1987 – June 1987 – Feb. 1996
South Asia/East Asia
SAS — April 1980 – May 1987 (South Asia)
EAS — Title change to East Asia June 1987 – Aug., 1996
Soviet Union
SOV — January 1978 – Aug. 1996; Title changed to Central Eurasia, December 1991 – Aug. 1996. See Eurasia, Central.
Joint Publications Research Service Reports (JPRS)
The JPRS Reports are CIA translations of newspapers, speeches, journal articles, and some news agency transmissions and broadcasts from Africa, Asia, East and West Europe, Central Eurasia (Soviet states), Latin America, and the Near East. The emphasis is primarily on political, economic, social, military, scientific and technical literature. The reports are issued by geographical regions and are sub-divided by field (“International Economic Relations”).
This service began in 1957. We have some periodicals (see list below) 1978- . We have other JPRS reports from 1988- , that are indexed by Transdex (paper indexes located opposite the microfiche cabinets). Since 1996, some of the JPRS publications have been merged with FBIS reports, others were dropped.
Location: Docs. Microfiche PREX 7.13: (series number). 1978 – 1996
Transdex Index, 1990-1996
Docs Microfiche area. (paper located opposite the microfiche cabinets)
World News Connection online service, 1996-
Indexing for JPRS:
- 1978-1989 For JPRS periodicals that we have: using U.S. newspaper and periodical sources, look up your topic. Look in the JPRS periodicals during week/month of your event, then check Tables of Contents for those issues.
- 1990-1996 The Transdex Index, located on the shelving opposite the microfiche cabinets, provides indexing from 1990 – 1996. Detailed instructions for using the index are in the beginning pages of each index volume.
You may use the index to look up a country, personal name, publication, and JPRS series. When you find what you want, note the series number (EER-92-028 36). Look in the Docs. Microfiche cabinets for PREX 7.13: EER-92-028, page 36.
- 1996- Some series were dropped. Those continued will appear in World News Connection online service.
Major Periodical Titles:
China Red Flag. 1978 – June 1988, filed at the start of PREX 7.13.
1989 – Title changed to Quishi (Seeking Truth), PREX 7.13: CAR – nos.
Trends in Communist Media, PREX 7.12: Yr. – no.
Issued January 1978 – July 1981, a weekly synthesis of foreign and domestic political developments covering many countries.
USA: Economics, Politics, Ideology (USSR Report), 1978 – Feb. 1981
Filed at the beginning of PREX 7.13: Continued at PREX 7.13:JPRS-USA – Sept. 1981 – Jan 1992
Areas covered in the JPRS SERIES (PREX 7.13: series – date – nos.):
Soviet Union: International Affairs, UIA, July 1988 – Jan. 1992
Soviet Union: Kommunist, UKO, May 1989 – Nov. 1990
Soviet Union/Central Eurasia: Military Affairs, UMA, July 1988 – Feb 1996
Soviet Union: Military History Journal, UMJ, July 1988 – June 1990
Soviet Union/Central Eurasia: Political Affairs, UPA, July 1988 – Jan 1992
Soviet Union: Sociological Issues, USS, Dec. 1989 – Jan. 1992
USSR: Computers, UCC, June 1989 – April 1991. 1991
USSR: Chemistry, UCH, May 1989 – June 1993
USSR/ Central Eurasia: Electronics and Electrical Engineering, UEE, May 1989 – Aug. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Engineering and Equipment, UEQ, June 1989 – Aug. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Earth Sciences, UES, June 1989 – Sept. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Life Sciences, ULS, June 1987 – Dec. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Materials Science, UMS, May 1989 – Dec. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Physics and Mathematics, UPM, May 1989 – Dec. 1993
USSR/Central Eurasia: Space, USP, April 1991 – Dec. 1994
USSR: USA: Economics, Politics, Ideology, USA, Sept. 1981 – Jan. 1992, earlier issues (1978 – 1980) are filed at the beginning of PREX 7.13
Central Eurasia, USR, Aug. 1992 – Dec. 1994