The Starfleet News Service is a department of the United Federation of Planets Starfleet. Its mandate is to provide less formal media for the interest of Starfleet personnel. The Starfleet News Service is distinct from any Federation media (such as the similarly-named Federation News Service), which probably have less strictures regarding potential embarrassment to Federation institutions, interstellar security, etc. Starfleet News Service is assumed to be similar in form and function to the American military department that provides Stars and Stripes and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network.