BiblioScholar Fair and Balanced? The Roots of Media-Military Tensions Since World War II

The media and military have competing objectives regarding access to and reporting of information during contingencies and wartime. The operational commander concentrates on mission accomplishment, often relying on surprise and deception, while the media seeks public awareness of issues and the next big story. The divergence of these competing objectives reflects the fine line between operational security and knowledge in the public interest. As a result, a tension exists between the media and military within democratic societies. The close association of the two parties and the accompanying tensions remain today as US forces fight the Global War on Terrorism. This thesis explores the changing nature of the military-media relationship, concentrating on the origins of the tension surrounding the interaction of the two entities.