Policy by press release
Encyclopedia
Policy by press release refers to the act of attempting to influence public policy
through press releases intended to alarm the public into demanding action from their elected officials. The practice is frowned upon, but remains effective and widely used. In modern times, the term is used to dismiss an opponent's claims, suggesting they are lacking in substance and created to generate media attention.
Use during the Cold War
Perhaps the most common use of the term refers to an infamous period during the Eisenhower administration
when "leaked" documents were a common way for the various branches of the US Military to attempt to garner funding for their pet projects when traditional chains of command failed, or actively ended them. Practically any idea, no matter how outlandish, could gain some traction by simply claiming that the Soviet Union
was working on a similar device.
The first, and most costly, example of this behavior was the mythical "bomber gap
". After seeing the latest Soviet designs in 1955, a clamor broke out in Washington about the Soviets developing a lead in deploying strategic bombers, with estimates that hundreds would be available shortly. The result was a massive expansion of the US's own building program, which led to the eventual introduction of about 2,500 jet bombers. Although it was not revealed at the time, US intelligence services had actually made real estimates of the size of the Soviet fleet as early as 1956, placing it around twenty aircraft. Nevertheless, the tactic of claiming the gap existed, and then brushing aside any criticism as being "weak on defense", was so successful it led to a wave of similar claims.
Another famous case was a claim that suggested the Soviets were working on a global-range nuclear aircraft
. An article, complete with "leaked images", appeared in the December 1958 issue of Aviation Week. The article described a system that was suspiciously similar to some of the designs currently under consideration by large US aviation companies. Concerns were soon expressed in Washington that "the Russians were from three to five years ahead of the US in the field of atomic aircraft engines and that they would move even further ahead unless the US pressed forward with its own program". In fact, the entire article was a hoax: the aircraft appearing in the pictures was later revealed through 3rd parties to be the entirely conventional Myasishchev M-50
Bounder, which never entered production. The rumored aircraft was a nuclear-powered version of the Tupolev Tu-95
bomber, called Tupolev Tu-119
. The controversy managed to secure, for a time, continued funding of US efforts, culminating in the NB-36 testbed aircraft.
Another apparent case of policy by press release during this period was the famous Look
article on flying saucer
s. At the time the US Air Force and (later) the US Army were funding the development of the Avrocar
at Avro Canada
in Toronto
. The article, in the 14 June 1955 edition, suggested that the recent wave of saucer reports were possibly due to Soviet flying saucers, and went on to describe them and their capabilities. It included several images that appeared to be provided to them by Avro Canada
, or someone in contact with them, including a description of the control system which was identical to the one used on the Avrocar. In the end the concept proved unfeasible, and the Avrocar project was eventually cancelled in 1961. This article nevertheless remains famous to this day, as it is often presented as a US Government misinformation campaign to deflect attention away from "real" UFO's, although to exactly what end varies.
. The entire body of research into global warming
or ozone depletion
has been repeatedly described by some editorialists as policy by press release. Likewise, the implication that Iraq was involved in the 9-11 attacks, or had Weapons of Mass Destruction
based on evidence the CIA's own reports dismissed, was described as "policy by press release" by people as wide-ranging as John Kerry
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3916793/ and Lou Dobbs
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/26/ldt.01.html.
A related term, public health by press release, is occasionally used ironically to imply official pronouncements or media campaigns belie inadequate effort or funding, though it appeared in an article warning against a pitfall from the opposite direction (potential mis-assessment of limited clinical studies by press and policymakers).
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
through press releases intended to alarm the public into demanding action from their elected officials. The practice is frowned upon, but remains effective and widely used. In modern times, the term is used to dismiss an opponent's claims, suggesting they are lacking in substance and created to generate media attention.
Use during the Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
Perhaps the most common use of the term refers to an infamous period during the Eisenhower administrationDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
when "leaked" documents were a common way for the various branches of the US Military to attempt to garner funding for their pet projects when traditional chains of command failed, or actively ended them. Practically any idea, no matter how outlandish, could gain some traction by simply claiming that the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
was working on a similar device.
The first, and most costly, example of this behavior was the mythical "bomber gap
Bomber gap
The "bomber gap" was the unfounded belief in the Cold War-era United States that the Soviet Union had gained an advantage in deploying jet-powered strategic bombers. Widely accepted for several years, the gap was used as a political talking point in order to justify greatly increased defense spending...
". After seeing the latest Soviet designs in 1955, a clamor broke out in Washington about the Soviets developing a lead in deploying strategic bombers, with estimates that hundreds would be available shortly. The result was a massive expansion of the US's own building program, which led to the eventual introduction of about 2,500 jet bombers. Although it was not revealed at the time, US intelligence services had actually made real estimates of the size of the Soviet fleet as early as 1956, placing it around twenty aircraft. Nevertheless, the tactic of claiming the gap existed, and then brushing aside any criticism as being "weak on defense", was so successful it led to a wave of similar claims.
Another famous case was a claim that suggested the Soviets were working on a global-range nuclear aircraft
Nuclear aircraft
A nuclear aircraft is an aircraft powered by nuclear energy. Research into them was pursued during the Cold War by the United States and the Soviet Union as they would presumably allow a country to keep nuclear bombers in the air for extremely long periods of time, a useful tactic for nuclear...
. An article, complete with "leaked images", appeared in the December 1958 issue of Aviation Week. The article described a system that was suspiciously similar to some of the designs currently under consideration by large US aviation companies. Concerns were soon expressed in Washington that "the Russians were from three to five years ahead of the US in the field of atomic aircraft engines and that they would move even further ahead unless the US pressed forward with its own program". In fact, the entire article was a hoax: the aircraft appearing in the pictures was later revealed through 3rd parties to be the entirely conventional Myasishchev M-50
Myasishchev M-50
-External links:* http://www.aviation.ru/Mya/#50* *...
Bounder, which never entered production. The rumored aircraft was a nuclear-powered version of the Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
bomber, called Tupolev Tu-119
Tupolev Tu-119
- External links :* * *...
. The controversy managed to secure, for a time, continued funding of US efforts, culminating in the NB-36 testbed aircraft.
Another apparent case of policy by press release during this period was the famous Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
article on flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
s. At the time the US Air Force and (later) the US Army were funding the development of the Avrocar
Avrocar (aircraft)
The Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar was a VTOL aircraft developed by Avro Aircraft Ltd. as part of a secret U.S. military project carried out in the early years of the Cold War. The Avrocar intended to exploit the Coandă effect to provide lift and thrust from a single "turborotor" blowing exhaust out...
at Avro Canada
Avro Canada
Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The article, in the 14 June 1955 edition, suggested that the recent wave of saucer reports were possibly due to Soviet flying saucers, and went on to describe them and their capabilities. It included several images that appeared to be provided to them by Avro Canada
Avro Canada
Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...
, or someone in contact with them, including a description of the control system which was identical to the one used on the Avrocar. In the end the concept proved unfeasible, and the Avrocar project was eventually cancelled in 1961. This article nevertheless remains famous to this day, as it is often presented as a US Government misinformation campaign to deflect attention away from "real" UFO's, although to exactly what end varies.
Contemporary use
The term is more commonly used today, especially in the U.S., in reference to environmental policyEnvironmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
. The entire body of research into global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
or ozone depletion
Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere , and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon...
has been repeatedly described by some editorialists as policy by press release. Likewise, the implication that Iraq was involved in the 9-11 attacks, or had Weapons of Mass Destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
based on evidence the CIA's own reports dismissed, was described as "policy by press release" by people as wide-ranging as John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3916793/ and Lou Dobbs
Lou Dobbs
Louis Carl "Lou" Dobbs is an American journalist, radio host, television host on the Fox Business Network, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air that he would leave the 24-hour cable news television network.He was born in Texas and lived...
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/26/ldt.01.html.
A related term, public health by press release, is occasionally used ironically to imply official pronouncements or media campaigns belie inadequate effort or funding, though it appeared in an article warning against a pitfall from the opposite direction (potential mis-assessment of limited clinical studies by press and policymakers).