War and the Press: Propaganda, Political Activity, and Covert Operations
War and the Press: Propaganda, Political Activity, and Covert Operations The media is a powerful tool that journalists can use to affect major controversies and draw the attention of governments globally. Media has been used by governments to work in their favor, and journalists have used their platforms to expose corruption and wrongdoing by governments, but it is a common understanding that the press has an immense power when it comes to war or maintaining peace. Media is such an indicator of the nation’s political climate to the government that the “Washington Post front page test” is often referenced in government decision-making. When a movement or action the government takes is receiving good press or attention, the test has been passed. It is clear that because information can be shared across the world in a matter of minutes, the government has had to adapt to the kinds of information they chose to classify and at what level of classification, especially during wartime or