A second, which I plan to discuss in a future column, explored techniques to improve international news coverage by showing the local implications of global developments, using the Internet, asking the wires for assistance and implementing other helpful ideas. The United States is the world s only superpower. Americans have a leadership position, whether they like it or not. For Americans to be engaged in the world, there must be a level of public understanding of world issues. In a democracy, foreign policy is dependent on public support in times of crises, such as war or natural disaster.
International news provides an early warning notice for wars, disasters, economic trends, etc.
The press plays a corrective role to counter misinformation and it has an obligation to cover important stories. Ignorance is very expensive in the long term. An uninformed public offers opportunities for demagogues and enemies to cause serious harm. The world is increasingly interdependent in areas such as economics, the environment, crime, drug trafficking, health and immigration. International developments affect Americans lives dramatically.