The War, the Press, and Democracy
Press coverage
Media
Coverage of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Center for International
and Security Studies, University of Maryland
News coverage of the war in Iraq and the subsequent occupation has been intense. Many people believe that this coverage has had some influence on the course of the war and its aftermath. Reporters and journalists have written about the coverage, asking how well the press has served the public. Meanwhile, political philosophers and political theorists have discussed both the war and the way it has been covered by the news media.
This website brings together these two discussions. It is intended to address such questions as:
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What is the role of the press in a democracy?
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What is the role of the press in a democracy at war?
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How ought democracies decide to go to war?
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How does having all-volunteer military affect the decision of democracies to go to war?
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How does one weigh the values of national security against those of individual civil liberties?
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How differently do political theorists/philosophers and journalists think about these issues? Could they learn more from one another?
Once you have explored the site, please visit the discussion forum and add you own views to the mix.