Public Affairs and Combating Disinformation
Abstract
Commanders understand that informing the American public directly correlates to the national will and support for military obligations. America believes that democracies are stronger and more resilient because they honestly inform their citizens. While informing the public is a command responsibility, commanders delegate this mission to U.S. Public Affairs Officers (PAOs). Public Affairs training focuses on informing key audiences and executing commanders' communication plans. Technology constantly forces Public Affairs training to adapt, but adaptation outside of its core mission has never occurred. With the emerging regulatory requirements of correcting misinformation and countering disinformation, public affairs' capability and readiness must be assessed. This study evaluates the readiness of public affairs to counter disinformation and examines the training PAOs receive to execute this obligation through scholarly review, military regulations, and industry research. The study concludes that not only are PAOs untrained to execute this task but that no strategy currently exists for combating disinformation effectively while upholding the American democratic ideals. This thesis recommends three changes that the Army must implement to raise the readiness of public affairs to compete in the disinformation space. These recommendations will provide a future model for countering disinformation and modernizing public affairs' role in information advantage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1210762
Entities
People
- Daniel W. Mathews
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College