ALVIN SNYDER

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Under Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Information Agency became a major player in American foreign policy, actively engaged in efforts to advance the cause of freedom and democracy. Alvin Snyder was on the front lines of many of the agency's pitched battles against its Soviet counterparts to win hearts and minds.

Warriors of Disinformation: American Propaganda, Soviet Lies, and the Winning of the Cold War (Arcade)
NATIONAL REVIEWS-

"A fascinating book about the great events of a special moment in history...Al Snyder offers a marvelous glimpse."
- Hugh Sidey, Time

"...an insider's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly behind the U.S. propaganda machine."
- Eleanor Clift, Newsweek

"...a revealing, readable, and often amusing insider's account of the amazing games people played in the propaganda sector of the cold war."
-Daniel Schorr, National Public Radio

"Al Snyder has told the inside story in a clear, worthy, and uncompromising way."
- Marvin Kalb, Director, Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Harvard University.

"This is truly an insider's account, a fascinating look at 'spinning' disinformation, and various propaganda adventures and misadventures on both sides of the cold war."
- Mike Wallace, CBS News/60 Minutes

"This instructive insider's report...reveals the Reagan-era propaganda campaigns designed to influence public attitudes abroad and erode support for the Soviets. He also provides insight into Soviet disinformation activities. Readers will be interested to learn how Washington conducted its public diplomacy overseas during the latter phase of the Cold War."
- Publishers Weekly

"...an excellent work...powerfully supports (charges) of government lying in the KAL 007 disaster. Snyder's book is first-rate, and his integrity comes across as unquestioned...Snyder is a veteran insider who ran Worldnet, the United States Information Agency's satellite TV service, and was formerly an executive at CBS and NBC. Snyder was the official who organized and presented the TV account of the shooting down of KAL 007 at the United Nations and then the world."
- Book Press, Edward T. Chase, former Editor-in-Chief of New York Times Books and senior editor of Scribner

"Even if you're not a media or foreign policy hound, you will not start Snyder's book without finishing it. Not only is he a seasoned journalist, he is also a great story teller. Each of the "warriors of disinformation" comes to cloak-and-dagger life under his pen. I'm waiting for the movie."
-Bruce Collins, C-SPAN

"A fascinating look at how the Cold War was won - and how the victim sometimes was truth itself. Al Snyder was on the front lines. A must-read for anyone who wants the inside story of the most massive propaganda war the world has ever seen."
- Jill Dougherty, CNN Moscow correspondent

"Any historian or analyst who writes about this cold-war period (and mind-set) must have this book."
- Joel Swerdlow, National Geographic magazine

"...manages to convince the reader to keep turning pages with his insightful, humorous and painfully honest declaration of the truth as he saw it happen. For anyone interested in American foreign policy, looking for another side of the Cold War, or just interested in a good read before bedtime, this book hits the mark."
- Clayton James, Pentagram

INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS-

"(Snyder's) candor about this little known subject is remarkable...Who could forget Reagan's spectacular Strategic Defense Initiative and its magnificent title of Star Wars. So flawlessly did the USIA manipulate this Buck Rogers hoax that...beguiled congressmen in Washington voted $35 billion for Star Wars research and development."
-Red Reed, The Weekend Australian

"This account of propaganda misadventures on both sides of the Cold War was written by...an experienced professional in the field."
-The Jerusalem Post

"...surprisingly entertaining but in the end leaves the reader wondering if he is not being manipulated once again."
- Asia Week

"...an amazing, wonderful read and some great journlalism lessons."
- CNN International

Nannies for Yuppies
The Mary Poppins department of government.
The Washington Post.

The Truth about Korean Airlines Flight 007
A first-person account of how the world was told about the downing of this flight.
The Washington Post.


The Cold War Traffic in Phony Information
The U.S. plays "Hugger-Mugger" during the Cold War. The Washington Post.

The Technology Warp: If Nixon had the Internet, Larry King, and TV Satellites
Before TV satellites, Nixon surrogates were sent packing to Peoria, Bozeman, and Duluth, to spread the word.
The Christian Science Monitor

A Look At Au Pairs
Uncle Sam's Babysitting Service

The USIA is in no position to regulate what has become a booming child-care business.
The Washington Post.

Jerry Springer: Just What TV News Needs
The brief career of controversial talk show host Jerry Springer as a news commentator was short lived.
The Washington Post.

Au Pair Program Biased to W. Europeans
The U.S. itself is not an equal opportunity employer
The Christian Science Monitor

The White House and Media Relations
With each new administration, the White House Office of Communications grows ever larger and seemingly less effective
Scripps-Howard News Service

U.S. Foreign Affairs in the New Information Age: Charting a Course for the 21st Century (Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies)
The U.S. government searches for ways to bring public diplomacy into the information age.
Monograph.

U.S. Shouldn't Muffle Voice of America
There's only one country that tries to censor the Voice of America. That country is the United States.

Knight-Ridder News Service




























































































Selected Works

Privatize Radio and TV Marti
Cuban Americans Are Best Equipped To Duke It Out With Castro. The Miami Herald.

Nannies for Yuppies
The Mary Poppins department of government. The Washington Post
The Truth about Korean Airlines Flight 007
A first-person account on how the world was told about the downing of this flight. The Washington Post.
The Technology Warp: If Nixon had the Internet, Larry King, and TV Satellites
Before TV satellites, Nixon surrogates were sent packing to Peoria, Bozeman, and Duluth, to spread the word. The Christian Science Monitor
Books
Warriors of Disinformation: American Propaganda, Soviet Lies, and the Winning of the Cold War (Arcade)
An insider's perspective during the crucial years of the Cold War, from the front lines of pitched battles with the Soviets to win hearts and minds.
Magazine Article
Monograph
U.S. Foreign Affairs in the New Information Age: Charting a Course for the 21st Century (Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies)
As a Senior Fellow of the Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies, Alvin Snyder convened a colloquium of experts to examine future directions of public diplomacy at the end of the Cold War. Monograph.
Newpaper Article
Au Pair Program Biased to W. Europeans
The U.S. itself is not an equal opportunity employer The Christian Science Monitor
Newpaper Articles
The Cold War Traffic in Phony Information
The U.S. plays "Hugger-Mugger" during the Cold War. The Washington Post.
Newspaper Article
A Look At Au Pairs Uncle Sam's Babysitting Service
The terms "au pair" and "nanny" are not interchangeable. The Washington Post.
Jerry Springer: Just What TV News Needs
It was an ugly two weeks for TV News The Washington Post
The White House and Media Relations
With each new administratiion, the White House Office of Communications grows ever larger and seemingly less effective Scripps-Howard News Service
U.S. Shouldn't Muffle Voice of America
Knight-Ridder News Service



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