Troop's Eye View of Reporting
"Not unlike covering a state house or congress, you get cozy with the people you
cover. They take you into their confidence. You end up self-censoring for
obvious reasons."
The problem with newscasters reporting from the front lines, is that journalists lose their objectivity by being involved personally with the soldiers fighting at the front lines of the war. They do not report casualties or disclose information against the military.
"Embedding" allows journalists to travel with and receive protection from the military and report in the middle of all the action of the war. Technically, this concept should allow for maximum amount of open coverage of the war. But people form bonds when there is a social connection and journalist lose sight of their main objective- TO BE OBJECTIVE.
I don't blame them for this. It's a human reaction. But on the other hand it's unfair to the American public who rely on the free press. We depend on the press to tell us what the government won't.
I don't blame them for this. It's a human reaction. But on the other hand it's unfair to the American public who rely on the free press. We depend on the press to tell us what the government won't.
posted by e.schaefer at 12:31 PM
1 Comments:
A good quote and a good discussion.
However, don't slam all of the embedded reporters so quickly. They do report casualties and information that may be critical of the war effort. Not every reporter allows his or her emotional attachment to the unit compromise their professionalism.
The reality is much more subtle it is about shading, tone, and the spin on a story. Yes, mistakes will be reported but how will they be covered? That's were the sympathies of the reporter play a major role.
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