The Logic of New Media in International Affairs

Proponents of new technologies argue that new media forms could have a dramatic impact on the way in which citizens gain political information, including important information regarding international affairs. This article argues that foreign policy is constrained by public opinion, which is in turn affected by media portrayals of other nations. Moreover, the impact of a particular media form is mediated by the `logics' of the format. The article proposes a conceptual scheme and criterion for determining the impact of media format in presenting international issues; it also proposes that the logic of new media, in contrast to the logic of traditional media, brings greater information, but less knowledge and critical awareness of foreign affairs.