Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Joint Campaign Plan describing purpose and objectives was revised in mid-2007 and designated strategic communication as an important enabler of operations. A flexible and responsive methodological approach was needed to monitor, measure, analyze, and assess strategic communication to ensure desired effects were being achieved. This article details the real-world application of strategic communication analysis by the Multi-National Force — Iraq (MNF—I) Communication Division to support MNF—I and United States Mission — Iraq (USM—I) senior leadership situational awareness and decision making. The seven critical methods used included an understanding of the Iraqi and Pan-Arab media; media penetration of key themes; alignment of key messages; understanding Iraqi perceptions; prevalence of misinformation and disinformation in media stories; resonance of press conferences and key themes and messages; and effect of embedded reporters. The goal was to assess the alignment among facts on the ground, media framing of events, and Iraqi perceptions, and to provide actionable recommendations to improve the alignment.

Keywords

media •military operations research strategic communication war

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aday, S. and S. Livingston (2008) `Taking the State out of State-Media Relations Theory: How Transnational Advocacy Networks Are Changing the Press-State Dynamic' , Media, War & Conflict 1(1): 99-107.

Aday, S. , J. Cluverious and S. Livingston (2005) `As Goes the Statue, So Goes the War: The Emergence of the Victory Frame in Television Coverage of the Iraq War', Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media 49(3): 314-31.

Barr, C.W. (2008) `A U.S. Diplomat', The Washington Post, 19 March: A10.

Boylan, S. (2008) Personal communication, 1 August.

Chandler, D. (2007) Semiotics: The Basics. London : Routledge.

Cihasky, C. , L. Grusczynski , J. Luse and J. Woo (2005) `The Media, Public Opinion and Iraq: The Roles of Tone and Coverage in Public Misperceptions', paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association , InterContinental Hotel, New Orleans, LA. URL (consulted 1 July 2008): http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p67275_index.html

Clarke, T. (2006) Lipstick on a Pig: Winning in the No-Spin Era by Someone Who Knows the Game. New York: Simon & Schuster.

D3 Systems (2008) ABC/BBC/ARD/NHK Poll - Iraq Five Years Later: Where Things Stand. URL (consulted 24 June 2008): http://www.d3systems.com/public/news.asp

Entman, R.M. (2003) Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

10.

Keen, J. and L. McQuillan (2003) `Bush Team Practicing `Message Discipline' , USA Today, 24 March: A08.

11.

Krippendorff, K. (2004) Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

12.

Kukis, M. (2007) `Fears of a Tet Offensive in Iraq', Time, 16 July: 16.

13.

Lawrence, R.G. (2001) `Defining Events: Problem Definition in the Media Arena', in R. P. Hart and B. H. Sparrow (eds) Politics, Discourse, and American Society: New Agendas. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

14.

Livingston, S. and W.B. Bennett (2003) `Gatekeeping, Indexing, and Live-Event News: Is Technology Altering the Construction of News?', Political Communication 20: 363-80.

15.

Maltese, J.A. (1994) Spin Control: The White House Office of Communications and the Management of Presidential News. Chapel Hill, NC : University of North Carolina Press.

16.

McCarthy, C. (2008) `Old Soldiers Shill the Pentagon Line', National Catholic Reporter 44(19): 18-23.

17.

McLeary, P. (2008) `Blogging the Long War', Columbia Journalism Review 46(6): 36-40.

18.

McCombs, M. and D. Shaw (1972) `The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media', Public Opinion Quarterly 36(2): 176-87.

19.

McQuail, D. (1987) Mass Communication Theory. London: Sage.

20.

Miller, J.M. and J.A. Krosnick (1997) `Anatomy of News Media Priming', in S. Iyengar and R. Reeves (eds) Do the Media Govern? Politicians, Voters, and Reporters in America. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

21.

Miller, M.M. (1997) `Frame Mapping and Analysis of News Coverage of Contentious Issues', Social Science Computer Review 15(4): 367-78.

22.

Morse, P.M. and G.E. Kimball (2003) Methods of Operations Research. New York: Dover Publications.

23.

Osgood, C.E. (1959) `The Representational Model and Relevant Research Methods', in I. de S. Pool (ed.) Trends in Content Analysis. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.

24.

Potter, J. (1996) `Discourse Analysis and Constructionist Approaches: Theoretical Background', in J.T.E. Richardson (ed.) Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for Psychology and the Social Science, Leicester: BPS Books.

25.

Project for Excellence in Journalism (2007 ) The Portrait from Iraq - How the Press Has Covered Events on the Ground. URL (consulted 1 July 2008): http://www.journalism.org/node/8996

26.

Sennott, C.M. (2008) `Can It Hold?', The Boston Globe , 16 March: A1.

27.

Sly, L. (2008) `5 Years After: Flowers, Ruins', Chicago Tribune, 19 March: A5.

28.

Soroko, S.N. (2003) `Media, Public Opinion, and Foreign Policy', Harvard International Journal of Press and Politics 8: 27-48.

29.

Vitto, V. (2004) Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Strategic Communication. Washington, DC: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense For Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

Operation Iraqi Freedom strategic communication analysis and assessment

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References