Pilot Study of Press-Military Relationships in the Aftermath of Grenada

摘要

In October 1983 the United States invaded the island of Grenada. The American news media were not allowed access to the island until two days after the initial landings. As a result of Grenada, a panel (The Sidle Commission) was created in February 1984 to make recommendations for media-military relations in future military operations. This thesis reviews press-military relationships historically and analyzes the relationship following Grenada. Personal interviews were conducted with civilian news correspondents currently assigned to the Pentagon. Interviews were also conducted with military officers. The Sidle Commission Report formed the basis for the interviews and analysis. The study reveals that both the press and military seek a need for increased understanding between the two groups. Some journalists view the relationship as adversarial in nature, while some officers stress the need for cooperation between the two groups. Both the press and the military question the practicality of press exclusion in future military operations. The limitations of this study are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research.