The Fourth Estate is dead, long live the Fourth Estate: A new military mindset for a rapidly evolving communication environment

The authors identify a need for a shift in the communication mindset of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to better account for the speed, ubiquity and mobility of human interaction in the evolving communication environment. The leadership requirement to define a new reality when guiding transition and complex change is identified. Three reality-defining truths are drawn from the convergence of leadership and communication theories. First, it is not possible to lead without communicating. Second, it is not possible to not communicate. Third, it is not possible to communicate without influencing others. Analysis of current DoD lexicon, principles and organizational design related to communication activities reveals a technical/monologic mindset. This mindset is evaluated based on the three truths, shortfalls of the mindset are identified, and four concrete leadership actions are proposed to guide a transition to a social/dialogic mindset. Proposed actions include defining a new vision and purpose for the military based on preservation of credibility and trust, creation of a new communication lexicon, creation of universal guiding principles, and revision of doctrine and training to incorporate social-communication thought, theory and practice.

► Fourth Estate is dead: Everyone moved on but the dead (media) & mourning (DoD).
► Evolving environment characterized by speed, ubiquity, mobility of human interaction.
► DoD mindset grounded in technical/monologic rather than social/dialogic theory.
► DoD dealing with new environment through repeated change not deliberate transition.
► To change DoD mindset, need new vision, lexicon, principles, doctrine & training.