Media Response To National Crises Essay Research

Media Response To National Crises Essay, Research Paper

During the first half of the 20th Century the nation and the media had to face

some of the gravest crises in modern history. Media responses to these crises suggest the

basic questions about the relationship between the media and modern society. In a final

analysis the media during the national crisis of 1917-1945 should be judged as a

constructive force for combating immense national threats to democracy. Most of the

media?s actions demonstrate constructive patriotism.

World War I was a major crises for this nation and led to media coverage and

foreign correspondence like never before. When the United States entered the war the

CPI was formed which coordinated the media and war effort. Their job was to inform

and influence the press. The information was usually accurate but it is easy to see how

the CPI could use the press to further the American war effort. The CPI had newspaper

editors voluntarily censor their material according to the CPI?s guidelines of material that

should be kept secret. Since the press supported the war, they cooperated with the CPI.

Even though newspapers had information the public would be interested in, they would

censor that information because they believed in the overall goal of furthering the war

effort, not giving information to the enemy, and mobilizing public support for the war.

The same is true for the Great Depression.

During the Great Depression President Hoover had asked the press to use caution

and not to make matters worse. It is said that newspapers ?did not need the nudge?

(Sloan, Startt, 324). Instead of reporting on specific matters about the economy or

political action, newspapers published happier stories as not to upset their readers. This

was an effort that newspapers thought was for the common good. By not upsetting or

alarming their readers, widespread panic would not happen. Media during the Great

Depression is another example of how the media curtailed themselves and published

stories which they believed would better serve the American cause. They would limit

emotion and not upset people. The New Deal brought on more patriotic press reporting.

President Franklin Roosevelt realized the value of the press, so he set out to win

their favor. He interacted much more with the media and radio trying to get his ideas