Piercing the Fog: National Security, Media and the Government

• Author: Harvey Rishikof
• Position: Chair, Department of National Security Strategy and Professor of National Security Law, National War College, Washington, D.C.
• Pages: 177-186

IX

Piercing the Fog:

National Security, Media and the Government

Harvey Rishikof

*

Introduction

Atthe Naval War College's 2006 Global Legal Challenges conference, Isat as a

member of the Public Perceptions Under the Law panel. The panel was

charged with the following questions:

1

.

How does the media shape public perceptions ofthe law? Does the media

generally shape such public perceptions in an accurate way? Does the

media understand the law well enough to accurately inform the public of

legal issues—and the related law—surrounding such issues? Does the

media have an obligation to understand—and then provide an accurate

recitation/analysis of—such law? Is there any responsibility on the part

of the government to "educate" the media concerning legal issues and

the law?

2. Do public perceptions of the law ever serve to help shape national policy

decisions? Should policy makers be attuned to the public's perception of

the law affecting aparticular legal issue? Or, can policy makers effect

*Chair, Department of National Security Strategy and Professor of National Security Law,

National War College, Washington, D.C. The views expressed in this article are those of the

author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the

National War College, the Department of Defense or the US Government.