Impact Of The Media On National Security Policy Decision Making

The author considers history and current research on the media, public opinion, and communications technology to provide both a view of the present and some suggestions for the future. He examines current claims that CNN-like mass appeal television broadcasting can dictate the march to war, and provides counter evidence that calls the direct connection of the media and policy decision making into question. The author seeks to identify the roles of the principal players and considers the effect of the growing capabilities of the public to be led by the media in national security policy issues. He raises additional questions that suggest considerable further research is required into this very important relationship. Media, First Amendment, National security, Public opinion, Media-public opinion interaction, Information age.