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MY WORKSUnder Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Information Agency became a major player in American foreign policy, actively engaged in efforts to advance the cause of freedom and democracy. Alvin Snyder was on the front lines of many of the agency's pitched battles against its Soviet counterparts to win hearts and minds.
Warriors of Disinformation: American Propaganda, Soviet Lies, and the Winning of the Cold War (Arcade)
NATIONAL REVIEWS- "A fascinating book about the great events of a special moment in history...Al Snyder offers a marvelous glimpse." - Hugh Sidey, Time "...an insider's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly behind the U.S. propaganda machine." - Eleanor Clift, Newsweek "...a revealing, readable, and often amusing insider's account of the amazing games people played in the propaganda sector of the cold war." -Daniel Schorr, National Public Radio "Al Snyder has told the inside story in a clear, worthy, and uncompromising way." - Marvin Kalb, Director, Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Harvard University. "This is truly an insider's account, a fascinating look at 'spinning' disinformation, and various propaganda adventures and misadventures on both sides of the cold war." - Mike Wallace, CBS News/60 Minutes "This instructive insider's report...reveals the Reagan-era propaganda campaigns designed to influence public attitudes abroad and erode support for the Soviets. He also provides insight into Soviet disinformation activities. Readers will be interested to learn how Washington conducted its public diplomacy overseas during the latter phase of the Cold War." - Publishers Weekly "...an excellent work...powerfully supports (charges) of government lying in the KAL 007 disaster. Snyder's book is first-rate, and his integrity comes across as unquestioned...Snyder is a veteran insider who ran Worldnet, the United States Information Agency's satellite TV service, and was formerly an executive at CBS and NBC. Snyder was the official who organized and presented the TV account of the shooting down of KAL 007 at the United Nations and then the world." - Book Press, Edward T. Chase, former Editor-in-Chief of New York Times Books and senior editor of Scribner "Even if you're not a media or foreign policy hound, you will not start Snyder's book without finishing it. Not only is he a seasoned journalist, he is also a great story teller. Each of the "warriors of disinformation" comes to cloak-and-dagger life under his pen. I'm waiting for the movie." -Bruce Collins, C-SPAN "A fascinating look at how the Cold War was won - and how the victim sometimes was truth itself. Al Snyder was on the front lines. A must-read for anyone who wants the inside story of the most massive propaganda war the world has ever seen." - Jill Dougherty, CNN Moscow correspondent "Any historian or analyst who writes about this cold-war period (and mind-set) must have this book." - Joel Swerdlow, National Geographic magazine "...manages to convince the reader to keep turning pages with his insightful, humorous and painfully honest declaration of the truth as he saw it happen. For anyone interested in American foreign policy, looking for another side of the Cold War, or just interested in a good read before bedtime, this book hits the mark." - Clayton James, Pentagram INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS- "(Snyder's) candor about this little known subject is remarkable...Who could forget Reagan's spectacular Strategic Defense Initiative and its magnificent title of Star Wars. So flawlessly did the USIA manipulate this Buck Rogers hoax that...beguiled congressmen in Washington voted $35 billion for Star Wars research and development." -Red Reed, The Weekend Australian "This account of propaganda misadventures on both sides of the Cold War was written by...an experienced professional in the field." -The Jerusalem Post "...surprisingly entertaining but in the end leaves the reader wondering if he is not being manipulated once again." - Asia Week "...an amazing, wonderful read and some great journlalism lessons." - CNN International
Chapter Excerpts from Warriors of Disinformation
Content Selection from Book
The Truth about Korean Airlines Flight 007
A first-person account of how the world was told about the downing of this flight. The Washington Post.
The Cold War Traffic in Phony Information
The U.S. plays "Hugger-Mugger" during the Cold War. The Washington Post.
The Technology Warp: If Nixon had the Internet, Larry King, and TV Satellites
Before TV satellites, Nixon surrogates were sent packing to Peoria, Bozeman, and Duluth, to spread the word. The Christian Science Monitor
A Look At Au PairsUncle Sam's Babysitting Service
The USIA is in no position to regulate what has become a booming child-care business. The Washington Post.
Jerry Springer: Just What TV News Needs
The brief career of controversial talk show host Jerry Springer as a news commentator was short lived. The Washington Post.
Au Pair Program Biased to W. Europeans
The U.S. itself is not an equal opportunity employer The Christian Science Monitor
The White House and Media Relations
With each new administration, the White House Office of Communications grows ever larger and seemingly less effective Scripps-Howard News Service
U.S. Foreign Affairs in the New Information Age
By Alvin Snyder, Senior Fellow, Annenberg Washington Program in Communication Policy Studies Of Northwestern University
U.S. Shouldn't Muffle Voice of America
There's only one country that tries to censor the Voice of America. That country is the United States. Knight-Ridder News Service |
Quick LinksU.S. Foreign Affairs in the New Information Age
By Alvin A. Snyder, Senior Fellow, Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies at Northwestern Universirty University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy By Alvin A. Snyder, Senior Fellow |