What are your views on the media in war?

Question

In an age reality TV, how real should we let our television get? Is it fair to the let the media cover the horrible truths of war? Is it fair to have our family members, friends, neighbors and loved ones shown on television in the middle of battle killing and being killed? If so, is there a limit of how far it should go? Was CNN justified to show an American soldier being killed by a sniper? Most people can not handle what happens in war, so why does the media exploit it so intensely?

Paul P- You make some good points; however, you ask what is wrong with showing the reality of war? What if it was your loved ones? What if the man in the CNN video was your brother or your son or your best friend? After seeing him shot, would still believe there is nothing wrong with showing you the reality of war? I believe your views might change if you actually got a glimpse of what war really is like. I may be wrong though.

Right you are Ken – You ask if I can handle the truth. You ask what’s the matter. I ask you, have you ever been in combat? Have you seen how it effects the soldiers/marines/sailors and their families? I have. The question shouldn’t be if I can handle the truth, the question should be if you can. Also, you are right, war is a dirty business. But, you don’t need to see death on tv to realize that. History and education should be more then enough to make you realize the ugliness of war.

Answer 1

I believe embedding the media with out troops not only poses security risks for our troops by slowing them down and making extra work for them. But it also is something that really does not show the whole story. You have to understand they are there to make a story so they can get paid. It does not matter who it hurts or kills as long as they get the scoop. CNN should be loaded up and shipped to the rear. Can You imagine if that Soldier that was killed was your son and you happened to see it on tv?
I say they should not be allowed to ever show that kind of thing on tv. WTF is the world coming to?????

Answer 2

Media coverage is a two-edged sword. It is important for the world to know what is going on, BUT the media can't (or doesn't choose to) be everywhere. Consequently, the world comes to believe that the little snippets of pictures they see represent the entire war. That is hugely unrealistic. And since "if it bleeds, it leads" is the operational mode of most reporters, it becomes easy for the general public to think that a war is going badly since they don't see the (less interesting) positives that are happening elsewhere in the theater of operations.

And you are also right that many watchers view a war like a reality show. They want results NOW. War doesn't work that way. Before the days of real-time coverage, people could be more patient with the outcome of the war. Now they want it over immediately.

Edit: I thought of one other important issue. When the media get in the way of carrying out a secret operation, they go too far.

Answer 3

As a vet of Viet Nam (USMC) I think that the media has an important role to paly as long as they leave their bias at home, however they often put our troops in danger when doing a story as they often rate special protection, or get in the way during a fire fight. However if they would run a storyunedited and show the blood and guts and gore, maybe then our leaders wouln't be so swift to commit our troops. Sherman said war is hell , and he was right. Yet if there has to be a war, let the Marines be Marines and if we fail to destroy it in 15 inutes the next one id free. OOOOOOOOOOOOrah

Answer 4

War is ugly, and the media have proven time and time again since the beginning that they are not on the side of the Americans. They have never reported anything good that has come out of this. They are negative and counter productive. If they were an employee of mine I would fire them. They have a liberal agenda and I am so disgusted with them, that I no longer watch television at all. Stick their ratings up their asses.

Answer 5

RATINGS!! The fact is in the old days people had no idea of what it was like to live in fear of death every minute and now they do and that's a good thing because it makes them realize how much respect and support they need to give our troops. When I was active we were taught not to give out movements or numbers and when the wars started the news was giving out these details and it really got to me. They are wrong to give out that information and I wonder how they got a hold of it in the first place. Common sense says you don't tell your enemies about your strength or weaknesses. The media was also broadcasting about failed equipment and supply shortages. That's damaging.

Answer 6

Think about it, if every country showed the REAL thing that go on in war and not the Hollywood view there just might be a lot less of them.

But, of course that's wishful thinking, so maybe the question should be why does our gov. allow the media to be there with the TV's after all radio and written word can be used also. I suppose there must be some easy questions to answer, I don't think this is one of them.

Answer 7

They show these things because thats what gets the ratings. People always talk about how disgusting it is to show things like that, but a lot of people eat that stuff up. Just look at all the videos of violence that are downloaded everyday on the internet. Anyway, what's wrong with showing the reality of war? If people are squeamish about it, oh well. It's the single best way of showing people the seriousness of war. It helps people to understand that war is not something to be taken lightly, and should only be engaged in under the most serious circumstances.

Answer 8

Why hide the fact. I think CNN is already pretty censored. anyone who thinks things are as clean as portrayed on CNN is in la la land ..Iraq is destroyed literally. The whole country is in ruin. I'm sure the Iraqis are in total support of the destruction of their country..NOT.
Imagine how you would react to foreigners if they came in and total-ed the states. Not like that could happen but imagine how you would feel about that. I can understand why the people are taking pot shots at the troops. This isn't to say I condone it but I understand it. I think the media should be showing the real horror over there.. Maybe if the American public was obligated to see what was going over there,, they would demand the removal of American troops.

The Iraqi people didn't start this war. The US did, against the advice of both NATO and the UN. Now your in a hurt locker all because of The yahoo cowboy you all elected president. Maybe he was just a bit too cocky. You will never hear him admit that.. Your now at war in Iraq longer then you were in WW2. and its all in Iraq.

The media should be showing the ugliness of war in all its forms the dead burned and disfigured children who are Innocent but oh well EH all is fair in war isn't it .Lets Just pretend it isn't happening.

Noting all my thumbs down it seems like that is what you would rather do..

so check this link and see from the eyes of someone who was there

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3837554806768067398&q=korey+rowe

Answer 9

War is hell.I say the reporters should not hole up in a safe zone and try to report on the war.Embeding a reporter is the best way to get the real story.

I don't think America wants to handle the reality of war.

Answer 10

The news media is bias and is slanted against the US Government and the Military's achievements in Iraq and
in Afghanistan and should be banned from reporting on
Military operations and some of their news reports are
questionable.