Philip M Taylor

This article is part of the Propaganda Portal project of Spinwatch.

Professor Phil Taylor

Phillip M. Taylor is Professor of International Communications in the Institute of Communications Studies at the University of Leeds. He also runs the shadowy Behavioural Dynamics Institute, and is on the advisory board of Strategic Communication Laboratories.

Profile

Taylor graduated with a first class honours degree in History from the University of Leeds in 1975 and secured his doctorate, also from Leeds, three years later. His PhD was an examination of the Foreign Office News Department between 1914 and 1939, externally examined by the late W N Medlicott. In 1978 he joined the School of History at the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in International History and Politics. In 1982 and 1983, he was Visiting Professor of Political Science & History at Vanderbilt University in the USA.

He was made a Senior Lecturer in International History in 1988 and a Reader in International Communications in 1992. He secured his Chair in International Communications in 1998. In between, he was seconded to the newly created Institute of Communications Studies in 1990 where he served as its first Deputy Director until 1998, when he became its second Director (succeeding Professor Nicholas Pronay). He was Director for four years until 2002. He is currently the Programme Leader for the MA in International Communications.

His research interests are government-media relations, public and cultural diplomacy, propaganda, psychological operations/warfare, information operations/warfare, military-media relations, international film, radio and television (international communications) – all in an historical or contemporary context.

He is Associate Editor of both The Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television and The Journal of Information Warfare and he serves on the international editorial board for the new journal Global Media and Communication. He also served for many years as Executive Secretary or Chairman of the InterUniversity History Film Consortium.

In the UK he has lectured widely for military education courses, including at the Defence Intelligence and Security School (DISS) at Chicksands, the Royal College of Defence Studies and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), both in London, and at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) at Shrivenham.

On military matters outside the UK, he has lectured at, among others places, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, and on NATO courses at the Polish Land Forces HQ in Warsaw, the Norwegian Defence and Security School (NORDISS) in Oslo, the Swedish Defence College in Stockholm, the Italian Air Force Academy in Naples, the United States Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOC, now University) at Hurlburt Field, Florida, the Canadian Armed Forces at Montreal Garrison, and at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania. He was also consulted by the prosecution of the Milosevic trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague on Serbian propaganda in 2002.

He has published 10 books, including War and the Media: Propaganda and Persuasion in the Gulf War (2nd edition 1997), Munitions of the Mind: a history of propaganda from the ancient world to the present day (3rd edition 2003); Global Communications, International Affairs and the Media since 1945 (1997) and British Propaganda in the 20th Century: Selling Democracy (1999) as well as more than 70 articles and book chapters. He has made many media appearances, including on the BBC’s Newsnight and Timewatch programmes, Channel 4 News, Sky News, BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live, and he has written op-ed pieces, inter alia, for The Washington Post and Al Ahram (Egypt).

Publications

Books

• Taylor, P.M. and Moorcraft, P. (forthcoming, 2008) Shooting the Messenger: The Political Impact of War Reporting, Potomac Press.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) War and International Relations in the Information Age (in Greek), Athens: Papazisis editions, pp. 485. P/b ISBN 960-02-1751-3.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) Munitions of the Mind: War Propaganda from the Ancient World to the Nuclear Age 3rd expanded ed., Manchester University Press. P/b 0-7190-67677
• Taylor, P.M. (1999) British Propaganda in The Twentieth Century: Selling Democracy, Edinburgh University Press, pp. xii, 269. H/B ISBN 0 7486 1040 5; P/B ISBN 07486-1039-1.
• Taylor, P.M. (1997) Global Communications, International Affairs and The Media Since 1945, London: Routledge, pp. xx, 248. H/B ISBN 0-415-11678-3; P/B ISBN 0-415-11679-1
• Taylor, P.M. and Morrison, D. (1996) Media, Guerre e Pace, Edizioni Gruppo Abele, pp. 148. P/B ISBN 88-7670-269-5.
• Taylor, P.M. (1992) War and The Media: Propaganda and Persuasion in The Gulf War, Manchester University Press, pp. xiv, 338. H/B ISBN 07190 3753 0; P/B ISBN 07190-37549. 2nd ed., 1998 with new introduction, pp. xxvi, 340. P/B ISBN 07190-5550-4
• Taylor, P.M. (1992) Stephen Spielberg Batsford. pp. 176. P/B ISBN 07134 6693 6. in The US, Published By Continuum As Steven Spielberg: The Man, His Movies and Their Meaning; New Expanded UK & US edition, 1994, pp. 184. P/B ISBN 07134-7761-X.; Translated Czech edition, Jota, Brno 1994, pp. 212. H/B ISBN 80 85617 28 5; Translated Taiwanese edition, 1998, pp. 308. P/B ISBN 957-679-419-6. New Expanded edition (With Daniel O'Brien, 1999) pp. 216. P/B ISBN: 0713484527.
• Taylor, P.M. (1990) Munitions of The Mind: War Propaganda From The Ancient World To The Nuclear Age, Patrick Stephens, pp. 240. H/B Isbn 185260-052-7 Translated Into Arabic, 2000. ISBN 99906-0-036-8; New Expanded edition: Munitions of The Mind: A History of Propaganda From The Ancient World To The Present Day, Manchester University Press, pp. 324. H/B 0-7190-4829-X; P/B 0-7190-4830-3; 3rd Expanded edition 2003. P/B 0-7190-67677.
• Taylor, P.M. and Sanders, M.L. (1982) British Propaganda During the First World War, Macmillan, pp. x-320. H/B ISBN 0333-29725-8. Translated as Britische Propaganda Im Ersten Weltkrieg, 1914-18, Berlin: Colloquium Verlag, pp. 265. H/B ISBN 3767807661 =.
• Taylor, P.M. (1981) The Projection of Britain: British Overseas Publicity and Propaganda, 1919-39, Cambridge University Press, pp. xv, 363. H/B ISBN 0521-23843-9. This will be available in paperback (ISBN-0521046416) from December 2007.

Edited Books

Taylor, P.M. and Roberts, G. (eds.) (2001) The Historian, Television and Television History, University of Luton Press, pp. ix-181. P/B ISBN 1-86020-586-0.

Taylor, P.M. (ed.) (1988) Britain and The Cinema in The Second World War, Macmillan, pp. x-201. H/B ISBN 0333-43448-X; P/B ISBN 0333-44459-0.

Journal Articles

Taylor, P. M. and Moorcraft, Paul (2007) 'War Watchdogs or Lapdogs?', British Journalism Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 3-14.

Taylor, P.M. (2007) '"Munitions of The Mind": A Brief History of Military Psychological Operations', Journal of Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 3: 196-204.

Taylor, P.M. (2006) 'Strategic Communications and The Relationship Between Governmental "Information" Activities in The Post 9/11 World', Journal of Information Warfare 5(3): 1-25.

Taylor, P.M. and Snow, N. (2006) 'The Revival of The Propaganda State: US Propaganda At Home and Abroad Since 9/11', The International Communication Gazette 68(5&6): 389-408.

Taylor, P.M. (2005) 'Towards A New Magic Bullet?', Defence Management Journal 30(September): 64-65.

Taylor, P.M. (2002) 'Strategic Communications Or Democratic Propaganda?', Journalism Studies 3(3): 437-52.

Taylor, P.M. (2002) 'Perception Management and The "War" Against International Terrorism', Journal of Information Warfare 1(3): 16-29.

Taylor, P.M. (2001) 'Propaganda and Information Operations', Taiwan Defence Affairs 2(1): 80-107.

Book Chapters and Working Papers

• Taylor, P. M. (2008) 'The Gulf War of 1991', in William A. Darity, Jr. (Ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd edition. 9 vols, Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, pp. 397-8.
• Taylor, P.M. (2007) '"They" Shocked, "We" Saw. Psychological Operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom', in Nossek, H., Sreberny, A. and Sonwalkar, P. (eds.) Media and Political Violence, Hampton Press, pp. 307-24.
• Taylor, P.M. (2006) 'Foreword', in Hentea, C., The Balkan Propaganda Wars, Scarecrow Press.
• Taylor, P.M. (2006) 'La Televisione E Lo Storico Del Futuro', in Grasso, A. (ed.) Fare Storia Con La Televisione: L'immagine Come Fonte, Evento, Memoria, Vita E Pensiero, Milan, pp. 159-166.
• Taylor, P.M. (2006) 'The Bolshevik Revolution and The War of Ideologies', in Jowett, G. and O'Donnell, V. (eds.) Readings in Propaganda and Persuasion: New and Classic Essays, Sage, pp. 111-120.
• Taylor, P.M. (2006) 'The Media, Conflict and Peacekeeping', in Utley, R. (ed.) Major Powers and Peacekeeping: Perspectives, Priorities and Challenges of Military Intervention, Ashgate, pp. 147-159.
• Taylor, P.M. and Ghani, R. (2006) 'Strategic Communications (PSYOPS, Information Operations and Public Diplomacy): The Relationship Between Governmental "Information" Activities in The Post 9/11 World', Occasional Paper No. 1, Centre For Media and Information Warfare Studies, Uitm pp. 82. ISBN 983-9414-80-1.
• Taylor, P.M. (2005) 'The Fourth Arm and The Fourth Estate: Psychological Operations and The Media', in Connelly, M. and Welch, D. (eds.) War and The Media: Reportage and Propaganda 1900-2003, IB Taurus, pp. 251-63.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'Psychological Warfare', entry for Microsoft Encarta 2005 ed., Redmond, WA: Microsoft.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'Desinformation Y Mala Informacion En La Guerra De Iraq De 2003', in Gonzalez, M.C. and Cortes, L.V. (eds.) Estrategias De La Desinformacion, Valencia: Biblioteca Valenciana, pp. 63-80.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'Foreword', in Defty, A. Britain, America and Anti-Communist Propaganda, 1945-53, London: Routledge.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'Conflict and Conflicting Cultures: The Military and The Media', in Caparini, M. (ed.) Media in Security and Governance: The Role of The News Media in Security Oversight and Accountability, BICC/DCAF Security Sector Governance and Conversion Studies, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, pp. 213-26.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'The Balkans Conflict and The Emergence of The Information Operations Doctrine', in Hammond, A. (ed.) The Balkans and The West: Constructing The European Other, 1945-2003, Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Co., pp. 184-198
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'Desert Storm Blowback: Psychological Operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom', in Nicander, L. & Ranstorp, M. (eds.) Terrorism in The Information Age - New Frontiers? Forsvarchogskolan, Stockholm: Swedish National Defence College, pp. 108-128.
• Taylor, P.M. (2004) 'The World Wide Web Goes To War: From Kosovo To The "War" Against Terrorism', in Gauntlett, D. and Horsley, R. (eds.) Web.Studies, 3rd edition, London: Arnold, pp. 230-242.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) 'La Definizione Di Uno Spazio Informativo Globale Nella Guerra Contro Il Terrorismo Internazionale', L'ospite Ingrate: Conflitto/Guerra/Media, Sienna: Quodlibet, pp.125-142.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) 'Journalism Under Fire: The Reporting of War and International Crises', in Cottle, S. (ed.) News, Public Relations and Power, California: Sage, pp. 63-79.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) '"We Know Where You Are": Psychological Operations Media During Enduring Freedom', in Thussu, D. and Freedman, D. (eds.) War and The Media: Reporting Conflict 24/7, California: Sage, pp. 101-113.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) 'Propaganda', in Boyce, R. and Maiolo, J.A. (eds.) The Origins of World War Two: The Debate Continues, Palgrave, pp. 342-59.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) 'Psychological Warfare', in Cull, N.J., Culbert, D. and Welch, D. (eds.) Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopaedia, 1500 To The Present, California: ABC Clio, pp. 323-27.
• Taylor, P.M. (2003) 'The Media and Air Power', in Gray, P.W. (ed.) British Air Power, London: The Stationary office, pp. 21-31.
• Taylor, P.M. (2002) 'Information Warfare and Information Intervention', in Price, M.E. and Thompson, M. (eds.) Forging Peace: Intervention, Human Rights and The Management of Media Space, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 313-328.
• Taylor, P.M. (2002) 'Crisis Management and The Media', in Savarese, R. (ed.) Comunicazione E Crisi: Media, Conflitti E Societa, Milan: Francoangeli, pp. 35-47.
• Taylor, P.M. (2001) 'Spin Laden: Propaganda and Urban Myths', in The World Today, London: Chatham House, 57(12): 7-9. Translated As 'Guerra De Propaganda Y Mitos Urbanos: "Spin Laden"', Hermes, 2002(4): 22-26.
• Taylor, P.M. (2001) 'Television and The Future Historian', in Roberts, G. and Taylor, P.M. (eds.) The Historian, Television and Television History, University of Luton Press, pp. 171-77.
• Taylor, P.M. and Badsey, S. (2001) 'The Experience of Manipulation: Propaganda in Press and Radio', in Liddle, P., Bourne, J. and Whitehead, I. (eds.) The Great World War, 1914-45: Vol. 2, The Peoples' Experience, London: Harpercollins, pp. 41-56.
• Taylor, P.M. (2001) 'Television: The First Flawed Rough Drafts of History', in Edgerton, G. and Rollins, P.C. (eds.) Television Histories: Shaping Collective Memory in The Media Age, University Press of Kentucky, pp. 244-58.
• Taylor, P.M. (2001) 'Propaganda', in Holmes, R. (ed.) The Oxford Companion To Military History, Oxford University Press, pp. 739-41.