Journalism versus the flying saucers: Assessing the first generation of UFO reportage, 1947–1967

Stories of flying saucers and unidentified flying objects reflect one of the most expansive and enduring news topics of the twentieth century. A historical analysis of UFO reportage over its first two decades indicates that American news organizations were deeply implicated in hyping and often obfuscating the UFO phenomenon. Journalists not only created and perpetuated the label “flying saucers,” but news organizations also thrived on a synergistic relationship with the entertainment industry. Consequently, germane issues related to UFOs, science, national security, and culture often became lost in the seams that delineated news values and reporting traditions from entertainment. When judged against the professional standards of the era, UFO coverage often was superficial, redundant, silly, and poorly coordinated.