Media as International Actor

Aug. 6, 2007: A Chinese police officer and plainclothes officer stop two women journalists from leaving after a protest by Reporters Without Borders in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The Age of Media Diplomacy

This issue of Communication and International Relations touches on a variety of roles that media play in communication between national groups. International media send messages between leaders, pressure governments, inspire humanitarian response to crises, enhance national images, incite hate, promote peace, and much more. Today's media also allow for citizens to take part in international affairs - whether as bloggers in Beijing, citizen journalists, or human rights monitors - in ways that are changing the international relations landscape. Once again, we hope you enjoy our work.

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Bloggers to Beijing 2008
By Courtney Adams

Citizen journalists, everyday citizens who use technology like cell phones and blogging to reinvent reporting, are headed to Beijing. According to China watchers, the news they generate is more likely to reflect the tone of the Olympics and provide a close-up view of topics like China's living standards. With traditional media under state control and Chinese authorities doing their best to prevent negative coverage by accredited foreign media, these cell phone 'journalists' may get their day on the newsstand.