IkeLibrary's video: Jared T Frederick 2023 WWII Emerging Scholars Symposium

“Dispatches of D-Day: Freedom of the Press and the Normandy Invasion” On the eve of the Normandy invasion, notions of maintaining and supporting a free press grew increasingly paramount. Beyond preserving moral superiority over their totalitarian enemies who stifled free speech, Americans passionately demanded promptness and transparency from their press and government. D-Day emerged as the symbolic crucible in which the democratic tradition of free expression could endure. General Dwight Eisenhower and federal entities such as the Office of Censorship struggled to safeguard classified information while also protecting the First Amendment. Compromise was key. But how was this balance struck? Among other measures, Eisenhower ensured he was an advocate of the free press and promised that he would never spread falsehoods regarding the conduct of the war. This engaging presentation will demonstrate how correspondents, generals, politicians, and common GIs delicately navigated the worlds of media and public relations as D-Day unfolded. Additionally, the lecture will highlight how citizens and soldiers used the press as a means of advancing societal change. Frederick’s original research stems from 1944 newspaper reports chronicling the preparation, execution, and aftermath of the Normandy invasion as featured in the author’s book, Dispatches of D-Day. Thousands of period newspaper articles revealed that the deeds of the Fourth Estate became the legitimate interest of the free world.