THE ARTILLERY OF THE PRESS

by James Reston ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 27, 1967

The author's penetrating commentary has long been an ornament of the New York Times' editorial page. Here, as part of the Council on Foreign Relations series, he analyzes the working methods and the traceable effects of the news media on the conduct of foreign affairs and Administration policy. The emphasis is on writers, but TV is examined, too. He discusses the difference between a statesman setting long range policy and a reporter concerned with tomorrow's headline. His recommendations suggest more analytic news coverage for all media, that the analysts seek to show the electorate what the alternatives to various policies could be, and that reporters be recruited as vigorously as the other professions search out the best of the young people. Reston pinpoints the basic conflict; the people's right to know vs. the government's occasional necessity to decide in private. He believes that the columnists are most influential when they are interpreting policies rather than criticizing them. His optimistic conclusions rest on a recognition of an increasingly well-educated citizenry's capacity to follow the news. This is an important short report on current communications problems by an experienced and respected practitioner. A full list of the publications of the Council on Foreign Relations is appended.

Pub Date: Feb. 27, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION