Communicating Nat SecFor Pol

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course will examine how the U.S. government communicates publicly about national security and foreign policy issues. In our polarized world with globalized communications, leaders must do more than develop intellectually-sound policies; they have to explain and sell those policies they’re proposing to the public. Media strategies have therefore become even more integral to the policymaking process. This course will give students a behind-the-scenes look at how the government communicates about global affairs; develop their skills to effectively advocate in the media for (or cover) policy positions; examine the challenges inherent in doing press in an age of social media and amid widespread misinformation and disinformation; and help them think critically about how the press covers global events, both in the United States and abroad. The principles, skills, and challenges that will be discussed are applicable to all who are interested in working in any facet of international affairs. The instructor has been a spokesperson for the CIA and the State Department, a commentator on cable news, and worked on multiple presidential campaigns. Learning takes place through classroom discussions, watching videos of good and bad media strategies, visits from guest speakers, conducting a mock press briefing, among other things.