Creation of the Evil Empire: How American Newspapers Molded Perceptions of the Soviet Union

Authors

Mary Dickson, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Soviet Union, propaganda, American Newspaper

Abstract

Feelings of apprehension and mistrust toward the Soviet Union were very familiar to those born during the cold war era. However, many baby-boomers were probably unaware that as recently as 1945, the Soviets were considered comrades-in-arms American allies. This drastic change in perception had several causes by a number of ingredients. Predominant among these were media voices that tended to encourage fear of Soviet aggression, promote certain policy positions, reinforce negative stereotypes, and influence consumers' purchases; a review of relevant events covered by the American newspaper media in different areas of the United States revealed the changing attitudes toward the former Soviet Union and her people. The New York Times, the Salt Lake Tribune, and the Star Valley lndependent's coverage of the Bolshevik Revolution, the death of Lenin, the Pottsdam Conference, and the death of Stalin manifest varying and increasing degrees of hostility toward the superpower, contributing to the turn of public opinion against the Soviet Union.

Recommended Citation

Dickson, Mary (1995) "Creation of the Evil Empire: How American Newspapers Molded Perceptions of the Soviet Union," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 24: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol24/iss1/6