THE PRESS AND FOREIGN POLICY

The psychology, one might say the mystique, of news reporting surely deserves this important study. Mr. Cohen has concentrated his research in the field of foreign policy reportage, but many of his findings probably carry over to other types of news coverage. What is ""news""? What makes a good foreign policy reporter? Is a reporter's function that of objective news-gatherer, analyst, or opinion-maker? Journalists' answers to these questions as well as many others reveal the existence of a proud tradition not always achieved but still attempted. How far do policy-makers depend upon reporterz as the link between themselves and the public? The extent to which newsmen themselves ""manage"" the news simply by their powers of selectivity is just one of the many fascinating points investigated here. Although self-consciously scholarly in style, the book is still exciting reading for anyone interested in current history and one of its most potent adjuncts.