The major purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the military and the media, as viewed by middle grade Army officers. This study also examined what the military view of the relationship would be during combat and the middle grade Army officers' perceptions of if the media should be accorded 1st Amendment rights. Data were collected by a survey. Questionnaires were distributed to a stratified random sample of 278 officers in the Command and General Staff College, AY 92-93. Data were analyzed in terms of frequencies, a t-test, a z-test and contingency tables. Results indicated that middle grade Army officers negatively viewed the military-media relationship and the media being involved with their unit during combat. Results also indicated that the public views the protection of media rights more negatively than the officers surveyed, except when it comes to the release of classified material.

ADA 272882 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)