The Print Media's Shaping of the Security Discourse: Cruise Missile Testing, SDI, and Norad

• Published in: International journal (Toronto) Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 89 - 117
• Main Author: Crosby, Ann Denholm
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto Canadian Institute of International Affairs 1996
• Subjects: Ballistic missiles; BRIAN MULRONEY; CANADA; Cold wars; Comment & Opinion; Cruise missiles; Cruises; Defense; DEFENSE POLICY AND SPENDING; DISSENT; Foreign Policy; Government; Mass Media; MASS MEDIA (NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, TV, RADIO, ETC.); MISSILES AND MISSILE SYSTEMS; National security; PIERRE TRUDEAU; Political debate; PRESS, JOURNALISM; Print media; Public Opinion; STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE; Test; Weapon Systems
• ISSN: 0020-7020
• DOI: 10.2307/40203173

DURING THE 1980'S TWO GOVERNMENT DEFENSE POLICY DECISIONS CAUSED GREAT CONTROVERSY AND DISSENT IN CANADA. THE FIRST WAS PIERRE TRUDEAU'S 1983 DECISION TO ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO TEST ITS AIR-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILES IN CANADA. THE SECOND WAS BRIAN MULRONEY'S 1985 DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNITED STATES' STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI) ON A GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT BASIS. BECAUSE BOTH DECISIONS WERE RELATED TO THE AEROSPACE DEFENSE OF THE CONTINENT, THE RENEWAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE AGREEMENT (NORAD) ALSO BECAME CONTROVERSIAL. SDI, NORAD, AND CRUISE MISSILE TESTING WERE SUBJECTS OF HIGH-PROFILE MEDIA ATTENTION IN CANADA. THE MEDIA, PARTICULARLY NEWSPAPERS, BOTH REFLECTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHAPING OF THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON THESE MATTERS. IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR SUMMARIZES THE MAJOR THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON THE MEDIA'S REPORTAGE OF SECURITY ISSUES. THEN SHE OFFERS A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COVERAGE OF THESE ISSUES IN SEVEN CANADIAN NEWSPAPERS. SHE CONCLUDES WITH SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC INTEREST IN SECURITY ISSUES AND GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING.