In the United States of America the media is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law […] abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.” The media are institutions whose primary concern it is to produce and distribute all forms of knowledge, information and entertainment and encompass print media, television, radio and the internet. For the purposes of this paper, the focus shall be on television, as “television is undoubtedly the pre-eminent form of the media in the United States” and it is the medium of choice for Americans looking for information. In a democracy such as the United States of America, the media ought to report impartially and in a way to inform and engage the public. Public opinion is understood as a collective view of a given issue. Foreign policy shall be defined as the goals a state wants to attain abroad, the values that determine to those objectives, and the means or instruments used to pursue them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2.
a. Role of the media in politics
b. Freedom of the media
c. Media acting in different ways
i. accelerant
ii. impediment
iii. agenda-setting agency
d. Soft news v hard news
e. Diplomacy
f. CNN Effect
i. Somalia and Rwanda
ii. The media in times of war
1. First Amendment v Live Coverage
2. Reliability of the media
iii. Crises
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the extent to which the media and public opinion influence United States foreign and defence policy. It critically examines the hypothesis that television news significantly shapes international policy, challenging the perceived power of the so-called "CNN Effect" by analyzing historical case studies and the evolving relationship between the media, the government, and the military.
- The role and influence of the media in the foreign policy-making process.
- Critical evaluation of the "CNN Effect" and its real-world impact.
- Analysis of media influence during the crises in Somalia and Rwanda.
- The historical evolution of the relationship between the American military and the press.
- Ethical and operational implications of real-time television coverage in conflict zones.
Excerpt from the Book
In recent years the phrase “CNN Effect” has often been used to describe the alleged substantial power of the media to influence and determine American foreign and defence policy.
The CNN Effect refers to Cable Network News (CNN), along with the three major networks ABC (American Broadcasting Company), CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) and NBC (National Broadcasting Company). The phrase was first used with regard to the American intervention in the growing humanitarian disaster in Somalia, characterized by a severe famine, general chaos, and domination by a number of warlords following the collapse of Siad Barre's military government in the early 1990s and the outbreak of civil war. The theory was that television coverage of a traumatic event would raise the prominence of that issue and shorten the decision making time on that matter.
Despite the common argument that President Bush chose to intervene in Somalia in 1992 as a result of television coverage, this was most likely not the case. While a contribution to the decision cannot be denied, the idea of television coverage appears to have been inspired by the influence of several politicians. As aforementioned, the media often turns to government officials for guidance on what constitutes news. Although the Bush administration took no action on Somalia before the issue was intensified by television coverage, a number of political figures were already aware of the situation in Somalia. It is quite probable that they turned to the media to increase the pressure on the government to act, thus using the media as an accelerating force.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the foundational definitions of media, public opinion, and foreign policy, establishing the paper’s central argument that media influence is frequently overestimated.
2. [Media and Policy Analysis]: Explores the multifaceted roles of the media as an accelerant and impediment, scrutinizing the CNN Effect through the contrasting cases of Somalia and Rwanda and investigating the contentious relationship between the press and the military.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes that while the media acts as an agenda-setting agency, it does not dictate foreign policy outcomes, and emphasizes the persistent conflict between real-time reporting and national security or ethical standards.
Keywords
Media, Foreign Policy, Defence Policy, CNN Effect, Public Opinion, Somalia, Rwanda, Vietnam War, Military, Journalism, Live Coverage, Agenda-Setting, First Amendment, Government, Operational Security
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the complex relationship between media coverage, public opinion, and the formation of US foreign and defence policy, questioning the extent of the media's influence on government decision-making.
What are the core thematic fields covered in the work?
The work covers political communication, the "CNN Effect," historical case studies of military intervention, the ethics of real-time war journalism, and the dynamics between the press and the military.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to determine whether the media actually influences foreign policy to the degree commonly assumed, or if the "CNN Effect" has been significantly overrated in its ability to dictate state action.
Which scientific approach or methodology is used?
The author employs a qualitative analysis of historical events and political theory, comparing media coverage with government policy timelines in cases such as the Vietnam War, Somalia, and Rwanda.
What is examined in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the three roles of the media (accelerant, impediment, agenda-setter), the specific influence of television on US interventions, and the challenges regarding media access and security in war zones.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
Key concepts include Media, Foreign Policy, CNN Effect, Public Opinion, Agenda-Setting, and the relationship between Journalism and the Military.
Why did the author choose Somalia and Rwanda as specific case studies?
These two cases serve as a contrast: Somalia is often cited as a success of the "CNN Effect," while the inaction in Rwanda demonstrates that media coverage alone is insufficient to force government intervention.
How does the author characterize the impact of the "CNN Effect"?
The author argues that the CNN Effect is overrated, suggesting that media coverage often follows rather than initiates government attention, and that decision-makers strategically use the media to gain support for policies already under consideration.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Carina Siegmund (Autor:in), 2007, How far, if at all, do the media and public opinion influence US foreign and defence policy?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/118785
