The world order in 2018 is heavily reliant on the flow of information across various media platforms. The media has a massive influence on how events are perceived, which can be hazardous if there is misreporting or bias–so-called “fake news.” On the other hand, increased reporting may lead to more transparency and communication on a global scale. “The CNN Effect” was impactful during the Cold War and has continued to have a similar impact since; political consciousness is largely shaped by what people, and states, hear from various media sources. So just how does media influence foreign policy–and to what lengths? Does international goodwill and cooperation depend on the media, and how could this change in the future?

Dr. Susan Moeller has been a fellow in the International Security Program and at the Joan Shorenstein Center for the Press, Politics and Public Policy both at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and twice a Fulbright Professor in international relations in Pakistan and in Thailand. Moeller consults on issues relating to media, media literacy, terrorism and conflict for such institutions and organizations as the World Bank, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. She has taught at Princeton University and Pacific Lutheran University, and is currently Director of the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA) and Professor of Media & International Affairs at the University of Maryland.