The Media and the Falklands Campaign

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. The Context

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. A Freak of History

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 3-21

   3. Reporting the Wars

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 22-43

   4. Correspondents and Commentators

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 44-62

3. The Commentary

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

      PDF

   2. The Fleet Sets Sail: 2–25 April 1982

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 65-78

   3. The Early Successes and Losses: 25 April–7 May

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 79-97

   4. Building up to the Invasion: 8–21 May

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 98-110

   5. Consolidation and Advance: 22–29 May

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 111-125

   6. Reinforcement and Reoccupation: 29 May–14 June

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 126-140

4. Assessment and Conclusions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 141-141

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   2. How Did the Media Perform?

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 143-156

   3. The Commentators — Disclosure and Discretion

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 157-173

   4. Into the Future: the Falklands Factor

      • Valerie Adams

      Pages 174-197

5. Back Matter

   Pages 198-224

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In the controversy over the reporting of the Falklands conflict, criticism focused on the media's use of armchair strategists to interpret and speculate about operations in the South Atlantic. Valerie Adams sets that media commentary in an historical perspective and examines its actual content to see whether the criticism was justified and whether the material actually helped to inform the public about the actions undertaken on their behalf. The issues raised in wartime by the relationship between the media, the government and the public in a democracy are explored: the Falklands' problems appear insignificant set against potential future difficulties.

• assessment
• campaign
• conflict
• criticism
• democracy
• government
• history
• media
• reinforcement

VALERIE ADAMS is a specialist in defence and arms control issues. She spent ten years in the Ministry of Defence, before joining the Department of War Studies, King's College, London. In addition to her involvement in research on the handling of the media in the Falklands conflict, she has published articles on chemical and biological warfare and arms control and on logistic support for the Falklands campaign.

Policies and ethics