The Jeremiad Over Journalism

The third chapter, relating to structural Americanization, meaning ―economic, technological,
political‖ factors, 19 constitutes a critical overview of the American government‘s aims in regards to
the military, economic and technological policy towards Denmark. Here I argue, that Denmark had
some leverage in relation to the United States because of country‘s geographical importance to
NATO‘s defense. Moreover, I demonstrate that the American ―first amendment absolutism,‖ calling
for no government regulation of the media market, is at odds with Danish politicians‘ perspective
that the press is worthy of subsidies because it serves a democratizing purpose in society.
Nevertheless, this chapter also shows that the Danish media environment has become more
commercialized over the years, though this commercialization has of yet not had a tangible
influence on election coverage. Additionally, the third chapter reveals that there was great demand
for American technological products after World War II among Danish journalists a fact that lends
empirical support to the notion that some aspects of Americanization occurred by invitation instead
of imperialism.
The fourth chapter, focused on symbolic Americanization, meaning ―culture, ideology and
institutions,‖ 20 shows that the American government very actively, both covertly and overtly,
attempted to influence Danish journalism after World War II through transmission of cultural
products. I examine, the aims of the USIA, its own assessment of results, and Danish skepticism
over the Central Intelligence Agency‘s work in Scandinavia. Additionally, it is demonstrated that
the transnational exchange programs initiated by the United States government and private
organizations in Denmark had lasting effects on the students and scholars who went and gave these
students a more positive view of the United States than was the case before the exchange. The
experience for some also exposed the differences between the Scandinavian and American media
systems while creating an important international network for their future work and for some
impacted their journalistic practice. Lastly, the chapter demonstrates that Danish journalists were
aware of the commercial pitfalls espoused by the American media system, but at the same time
appropriated journalistic practices emanating from America. In very real ways, the United States
was seen by Danish journalists as the place to discover the future of journalism and the last part of
this chapter, heeding Hallin and Mancini‘s suggestion, offers two concrete examples of how
19 Elteren, Americanism and Americanization: A Critical History of Domestic and Global Influence. Page 129.
20 Ibid. Page 142. See also Joseph S. Nye, The Paradox of American Power: Why The World's Only Superpower Can't
Go It Alone (New York Oxford University Press, 2002). Page 9-11.
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