For those who follow the NFL, the Jets-Patriots game was arguably the most compelling story line of the post season. All of the trash-talking in the media made the game so much better. While no one can “prove” that the Jets' trash-talking affected the outcome of the game, it got into the Pats' head. Wes Welker was uncharacteristically verbose and his coach benched him for the first series. Jets Coach Rex Ryan has a lot teach US officials, such as Walter Issacson, about international broadcasting.
Issacson, BBG chairman, says the “free flow of information will promote forces of tolerance and democracy.”[1] Certainly, an important element of IB is the transmitting of values. But values are but a thin veneer over the essential nature of IB At its core, though, IBis not that different from the swaggering, expletive-laden locker-room interviews and press conferences of the NFL. Teams talk up their skills and personal because if their opponents start thinking “hey those guys really are good” then the battle is already over. Similarly, nations want to extol their own values virtues and greatness to convince others of their own inferiority.
Furthermore, broadcasting on enemy countries shortcomings such as crime problems or poverty is really just a more sophisticated version of a meat-headed rant against another player. By getting into the opponent’s head, you make him question himself, disrupt his thought process, and make him engage in self-destructive behavior.
In light of these similarities, any compelling explanation of international broadcasting must recognize it as a tool of psychological warfare, not far removed from real conflict.
[1] Celebrating 60 Years of RFE , Remarks by Walter Isaacson, Chairman, Broadcasting Board of Governors, President/CEO, Aspen Institute. 9/28/10, Washington, D.C>
Interesting post. I enjoyed the biting banter between the two sides. Especially when Ryan made those antagonizing proclamations before each game. Your observation is accurate with IB. It seems a bit more subtle, however the motives going in are the same.
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