Press and U.S. Policy toward Nicaragua, 1983–1987: A Study of the New York Times and Washington Post

Abstract

A content analysis of the New York Times and Washington Post for the years 1983 to 1987 shows that these newspapers demonstrated a pattern of legitimating U.S. government policy in the United States-Nicaraguan conflict. About half of all sources named in both newspapers were government officials with a stake in the official view. “Contra” officials representing Nicaragua's anti-government forces supported by the United States were seldom cited. But there was some critical coverage; however, criticism centered primarily on the means of achieving stated U.S. policy goals rather than on the appropriateness of the policy itself.