The U.S. Information Bulletin and Mixed Signals in the Democracy Lessons for Postwar Germany

Abstract

In post-World War II Germany, the U.S. occupation government's Information Bulletin magazine reflected a fundamental tension between teaching the value of a free, open press and the press as a means to rally support against opposing forces. This paper examines content of the Information Bulletin from 1945, 1947 and 1950, tracing a shift over the course of this period.

At the outset, the magazine reflected an emphasis on teaching the ideals of press freedom and acceptance of diverse points of view. By 1950, the tenor of the articles had shifted to a marked anti-Soviet tone, and the magazine questioned the legitimacy of communist publications in West Germany. This tension between liberal ideals of free expression and the protection of strategic interests finds parallels today in situations such as the U.S. presence in Iraq. This research also raises questions about Americans' acceptance of oppositional views and more broadly of different understandings of the mission of journalism.