Headline Diplomacy: How News Coverage Affects Foreign Policy (Praeger Series in Political Communication) [Paperback]

Philip Seib (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0275953750 | ISBN-13: 978-0275953751

Seib explores the many ways in which news coverage shapes the design and implementation of foreign policy. By influencing the political attitudes of opinion-shaping elites and the public at large, the news media can profoundly affect the conduct of foreign policy. Seib's text analyzes important examples of press influence on foreign affairs: the news media's definition of success and failure, as in reporting the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam; how public impatience, fueled by news reports, can pressure presidents, as happened during the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-81; how presidents can anticipate and control news media coverage, as was done by the Bush administration during the 1991 Gulf War; how press revelation or suppression of secret information affects policy, as in the cases of the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile crisis, and various intelligence operations; how coverage of humanitarian crises affects public opinion; the challenges of live TV coverage; and the changing influence of news in the post-Cold War world. By covering a wide range of issues and examples, this important text will stimulate thoughtful appraisal of the relationships between the news media and those who make policy. It will be of interest to students and scholars in journalism, political communication, and international relations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“...Seib has offered a stimulating analysis of how the ground has shifted for journalists and policymakers alike. It is evident that he cares deeply about its consequences. That makes [this book] a worthwhile reference for specialists in the field as well as a useful textbook for courses in international journalism and history.”–Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

About the Author

PHILIP SEIB is Professor of Journalism at Southern Methodist University. He is also a columnist for the Dallas Morning News and a political analyst for WFAA Television, Dallas's ABC affiliate. He is the author of nine books, including Campaigns and Conscience: The Ethics of Political Journalism (Praeger, 1994).

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Paperback (November 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275953750
• ISBN-13: 978-0275953751
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of information, September 26, 2002

By 

Col. Barry Johnson "Bear" (Potlatch, Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Headline Diplomacy: How News Coverage Affects Foreign Policy (Praeger Series in Political Communication) (Paperback)

As a self-proclaimed student of how the media impacts decision-making, particularly in political and military matters, I found this book worthwhile and interesting. Although the perspective it offers isn't particularly new, the historical examples offer many insights into the crises America has faced over the past decades and the important role the media has played in them. There are many examples in this book that I haven't seen addressed anywhere else. It really expanded my interest a variety of historical events from our recent past that illuminate how media has impacted political decisions and, at times, been manipulated to assert foreign policy. This is a book you might find a bit dry at the beginning, but by the third chapter, I was thoroughly enjoying it. Great book for anybody who's interested in government and needs a better understanding of its complex relationship with the media.