The Fifth Estate: The New Media of Desert Storm
Abstract
This thesis examines how changes in the news media, as evidenced in Desert Storm, have resulted in what the author terms the new media. These changes in the media are radically altering the conduct of national policy, including war. Subject areas addressed include the new media's impact on intelligence, wartime diplomacy, and public opinion. Additionally, the potential ramifications of the growing multi-national nature of the news media are extensively examined. Specific changes in the media that also addressed include the real-time coverage of war, the global scope of wartime television coverage, technological advance of the media, and increases in national and global television viewership of wartime coverage. The methodology the author uses is a qualitative examination of the media and its apparent impact during Desert Storm. This thesis concludes with recommendations for DOD/government to confront, manage, and utilize these changes in the media so as to allow the implementation of policies that best serve the national interest. The primary purpose for this work is to spur the government/DOD into addressing the new media and considering the concept of an information strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA276441
Entities
People
- Peter M. Ryan
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School