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Security, Intelligence and the Role of the MediaComments and ObservationsAmbassador Cresencio S. ArcosPresented at the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations, May 21, 2009Security and intelligence have always been officially linked. Whereas, the media’s role along withintelligence to safeguard the well-being of a country has never been specifically defined. Securityimplies the safety, tranquility, peacefulness and the continuous ability of a society to function.Intelligence is the mechanism or methodology which ensures the security of any given state.In a traditional definition, intelligence collects information vital to survival or security frommany different sources. Human intelligence, the oldest intelligence ‘discipline’ orginated from theancient practice of exchanging envoys. The resident diplomat was primarily focused on collectinginformation on the host country which was relevant to the sending country’s vital interest. Thisdiplomat was to introduce himself into the ruling circles to determine what activities, policies orplans had an impact on his country. Recruiting local collaborators was a common practice to helpunderstand the environment. Plainly, this became the essence of human intelligence. Later, whenevolving technologies in photography and telecommunication were developed signals intelligenceand imagery intelligence also became key ‘disciplines’ in the collection of information.One other ‘discipline’ which stems from the ancient writings and the invention of the printingpress is ‘open source’ intelligence. The printing press gave rise to pamphleteering, book publishing,mass produced public notices, gazettes or public journals. These journals or newspapers became thefirst mass media. Later, radio and television became the new mass media outlets. With the emergenceof mass media many governments readily viewed this enterprise as serving the ‘public’ good. Thisconceptualization meant the media should serve the government or the state’s interest throughpropagating selected information. Hence, the media was officially seen by many in government asthe state’s tribune. At the same time dissidents, critics and the political opposition seized on the massmedia to advance ‘political choice’ and freedom of expression. Some used the media to create aclimate for change and improve the social structure. Many others saw the opportunity to use the massmedia to promote commercial endeavors, consumer items or services. Regardless of the purpose thisnew media carried information of interest to those who attempted to evaluate the political, socialor economic conditions of a given country. Print media spawned journalism. This new professioninvolved reporting or collecting information of interest to readers enabling the owners to sell theirprinted product as well as attract advertisers.These reporters or journalists became avid collectors of information on a wide range of topics.They also became the analysts in many instances who explained the meaning of information to thegeneral public. In traditional official intelligence collection of information carried out by diplomats,military men or law enforcement agents the focus or goal was to obtain key and timely informationwith national security implications. This process traditionally has helped official intelligence officialsnot only collect from open sources but complemented the information gleaned from ruling circles,dissidents, opposition members or knowledgeable individuals. The sensitivity of such informationis evaluated by analysts and then conveyed to the policy-makers from the sponsoring government.Open sources like newspaper reporting became important and most helpful in collecting information.It helped sort out the hidden dimension or meaning in any event, policy decision or pronouncement .Today, the media is a competitor to the official intelligence community in gathering informationor intelligence. The intelligence community (military, diplomatic, law enforcement) concerns are todiscreetly collect information and at the same time be mindful of sources and methods. The mediaSecurity and Defense Studies Review 2009/Edición 2009/ Edicão 2009/ Volume 9, Issues 1 & 2 139