Mass Media Influence on Foreign Policy

A main purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate and explain to what extend do media influence foreign policy of a state. Foreign policy is always under internal and external influences and media are considered to be one of those external influences that shape it. Agenda setting theory forms the theoretical frame for this thesis because it takes into consideration not just direct media-government relations but the public as well that inside of this relation serves as some sort of mediator. Besides this theory and the CNN effect as its main 'extension' identifiable victim effect and third person effect as important elements in the process of influence will be introduced as well as influence of visualization. When word 'media' is mentioned in this case it implies to television and newspapers' (both printed and online versions) messages and their influences (not just verbal but the visual ones as well). Examples and case studies in this case focus mostly on the US foreign policy due to its influential role, fact that the US is still the country with the most superlatives inside of international arena and the size, influence and role-model identity of its big media companies (for ex. CNN).