CNN Chief Orders 'Balance' in War News

We must keep in mind, after seeing reports like this from Taliban-controlled areas, that these U.S. military actions are in response to a terrorist attack that killed close to 5,000 innocent people in the U.S.' or, 'We must keep in mind, after seeing reports like this, that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan continues to harbor terrorists who have praised the September 11 attacks that killed close to 5,000 innocent people in the U.S.,' or 'The Pentagon has repeatedly stressed that it is trying to minimize civilian casualties in Afghanistan, even as the Taliban regime continues to harbor terrorists who are connected to the September 11 attacks that claimed thousands of innocent lives in the U.S.' . . .(Howard Kurtz, Washington Post, 10/30/01)


This memo from CNN's chairman, written only 50 days after the 9/11 terrorist strike on the World Trade Center, is telling its reporters the importance of prefacing its reports of U.S. military actions in Afghanistan by reminding Americans that what they are seeing is in response to the horrors of 9/11. With all the reports and images of collateral damage and civilian casualties being beamed to the American public, the chairman of CNN, Walter Isaacson, wants to make sure that the CNN reports are not seen as being anti-war in any way, "I want to make sure that we are not used as a propaganda platform."

Unlike the first Gulf War's sanitized war coverage, reports of the American military actions in Afghanistan were not nearly so clean and family-friendly. Reporters were allowed to "get their hands dirty" this time around and the result was that the reported war images did not look like a Disney spectacular (as claimed by critics of the media during the first Gulf War). Instead, frightening images of civilian casualties (resulting from misdirected American bombs) were very much a part of the depressing war coverage.

The CNN chairman wanted its reporters to make clear that the Taliban terrorists being hunted in Afghanistan were not the victims in this war. Instead, Americans should keep in mind the horrible vision of the twin towers toppling down on 9/11, killing thousands of innocent people on a bright, sunny day in September, forever changing the rules of engagement.

No News Is No News

With quotes like "The Public needs more than rumors and official tabits" and " Viewers watch the high drama nof journalists donning gas masksand hurryingto bomb shelters , and CNN reporters ducking under their decks to sounds of explosions nearby."

It is clearly evident that journalism has bec0me more of a theatrical event then informing the public with current events. Its like lights, camara, action with these jornalist, especially during the Gulf war to now. Also that the "New School Journalist" are being admired more for their acting ability than ther ability to report news.

No News Is No News

No News Is No News, but it sure is entertaining!

"The news vacuum has had yet another unexpected result. The media themselves have become the story. Viewers watch the high drama of journalists donning gas masks and hurrying to bomb shelters, and CNN reporters ducking under desks to the sound of explosions nearby. Although the news gathering process has been revealed, journalism itself has been short-circuited, and viewers have been treated to raw, unprocessed rumor as a result." -Schiffer and Rinzler (No News Is No News)

Since the Persian Gulf War I feel that our news networks have gotten much more clever in how they present their news. I turned on Fox News to experience a whole different kind of news reporting. Patriotism is Fox's gimmick...but ratings, just like any other news station, are their main concern.

<---Check out the American Flag Graphic in the corner. Now, we have different opinionated news magazines on a variety of slanted stations...this makes news a bit more entertaining than just giving the rumors or even the facts to the public. Strong characters that head these news magazines create and draw controversy from expressing their own opinions, whether right or wrong. Yet, the public can't help but watch! Not only are these show hosts gaining popularity, they are also everywhere....the radio...publishing books...being interviewed on other talk shows. It shows me whether the news is interesting or not that day...you will be entertained.

Civilian Deaths in Iraq

Civilian Claims on U.S. Suggest the Toll of War - New York Times

On the front page of the New York Times today is an article about the process of compensating Iraqi and Afghani civilians for deaths and injuries suffered because of the ongoing war on terror.

Here is the key section of the article which discloses the existence of these damage claims and the fact that these incidents are not usually publicized. Accidental deaths are a big part of war. The question is how are civilian casualties covered. Should the reporting of civilian casualties be minimized to limit the damage to international and domestic support for the war effort? Who was reponisible for bringing these facts to light?

According to the Times:

"The incidents are among many thousands of claims submitted to the Army by Iraqi and Afghan civilians seeking payment for noncombat killings, injuries or property damage American forces inflicted on them or their relatives.

The claims provide a rare window into the daily chaos and violence faced by civilians and troops in the two war zones. Recently, the Army disclosed roughly 500 claims to the American Civil Liberties Union in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. They are the first to be made public.

They represent only a small fraction of the claims filed. In all, the military has paid more than $32 million to Iraqi and Afghan civilians for noncombat-related killings, injuries and property damage, an Army spokeswoman said. That figure does not include condolence payments made at a unit commander’s discretion.

The paperwork, examined by The New York Times, provides unusually detailed accounts of how bystanders to the conflicts have become targets of American forces grappling to identify who is friend, who is foe. "

War's Hidden Cost- John H. Cushman Jr.

"When bombs fall, some of them will fall on the wrong people". How true this is, yet how sad. So many times innocent people are killed. They call this collateral damage. Recently the Pentagon mentioned of people dying in a bombing strike in Tora Bora. I was completely shocked to hear of the many innocent women and children that were killed.