Atatürk wrote in the preamble to the law establishing the DGPI: "The neglect to forge political and ideological institutions over an extended period of time, which would have been as powerful as weaponry in defending our national interests, has caused much mischief. There is not a single European state that has not set up an as-large-as-possible organisation with this objective in mind. On the one hand we need to bring out publications with an aim to defend our national and legitimate cause and to constantly scrutinize the foreign press to understand the intellectual climate, while on the other hand we need to bring out publications to generate a unity of ideas and attitudes within the nation as the modern times dictate."

The Directorate, which acquired different names under several ministries in the decades after its establishment, attained its own organisational structure with its current name and functions by a decree with the power of law in 1984. Duties of the DGPI include: (a) to contribute to the promotion policy of the state and to the strategies implemented by the government on this matter; (b) to provide accurate and timely information to the public and relevant state authorities; (c) to ensure government activities and services are effectively conveyed to the national and international public; (d) to maintain and organise relations with the domestic and foreign media and take effective measures to facilitate their working conditions and activities.

The DGPI has provincial offices in Adana, Antalya, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Istanbul, İzmir, Trabzon, as well as 23 offices abroad.