Product Description

The media served a highly partisan and propagandistic role in NATO's Kosovo war, uncritically reproducing official spin in a way that was incompatible with their proclaimed democratic role as objective purveyors of information. This book integrates a critical interpretation of Western policy towards the former Yugoslavia with analysis of media coverage of the Kosovo crisis and war. The first part of the book deals with the war itself and the build-up to it, placing this in the context of earlier Western intervention in Yugoslavia. Part two discusses key issues raised by the media coverage, including the demonisation of the enemy, and the role of CNN. In the final section, contributors analyse how the war was reported in different countries around the world, including the United States, Britain, Germany, India, Greece, Russia, and France. The book offers a corrective to the hysteria and misinformation that permeated media coverage. Subjects covered include the role of the Internet, the changing media-military relationship, the depiction and definition of "war crimes", and how Yugoslav television was presented as a legitimate military target. Contributors include John Pilger, Edward S. Herman, Phil Hammond, Diana Johnstone, Jim Naureckas and Jan Oberg.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #428185 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Customer Reviews

Brilliant expose of NATO aggression
This is the best book yet on the NATO aggression of March-June 1999. It also studies the media coverage of the war. The first part consists of four essays on the background to the war, David Chandler's essay, Western intervention and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, 1989-1999, being outstanding. The second and third parts comprise fourteen essays on media coverage around the world, including a brilliant essay on CNN's role as NATO's mouthpiece. Unfortunately, however, there is no essay studying the huge popular opposition to the war in Europe and America...

How many truths are there?
An excellent compilation of "dissident" writers so far as the bombing and mainstream press is concerned.

For those who have swallowed the propaganda from Western media, this book should be an eye-opener; it is a reminder that not all that you read in the papers is the only truth, and it demonstrates the degree of oposition to US policy around the world - something which has certainly not been spoken of much in the US and UK.

On the negative side, the writing style is generally heavy going, and the font is small. If you can afford it, buy the hardback.