Media Access and the Military shows that, in the context of war, the simple typologies of the press which have been accepted as conventional wisdom are not only out of date, but err in classifying societies monolithically. Within the national culture of the United States, military and media groups differ in the way each frames its vision of the role of the press, and the result is conflict. This study offers a uniquely detailed description of the daily negotiations between the military and the press corps over battlefield access during the Gulf War, and explains how their differing views of the media's role influenced policy.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-234) and index.

Cutting through the fog of war -- Theories related to media access -- Military public affairs policies -- Operation Desert Shield -- Operation Desert Storm -- Defining the role of the press -- Setting the news agenda.