Coverage of the War in Iraq, in a sense, parallels that of the Vietnam War. News coverage of wars changed drastically during Vietnam. Because of technology, citizens were getting faster and more in depth coverage. Journalists were on the front lines, reporting back with vivid images of the fighting that took place. For the first time, U.S. citizens were able to stay on top of the military’s actions.
Today, journalists are able to report from Iraq in “real time.” During the first war in Iraq, a CNN crew broadcasted live as bombs were falling in Baghdad. In the current Iraq war, journalists accompany military brigades and often right in on the action. This new access has led to more accurate and informative reporting.The morph of press bias and sentiment of the Iraq war also parallels the Vietnam War. In the beginning years of the war, journalists were supportive of U.S. efforts and worked peacefully alongside the government. However, as the war continued to drone on, journalists became weary, skeptical and often attached to soldiers or civilians in the areas they were covering.
Soon, journalists were making bold efforts to report the losses of the military. They were no longer painting the war in a positive light.
Likewise, current journalists in the past two or three years have begun reflect their doubts and cynicisms. Often the press has been accused of being anti-Bush. While those accusations are probably true, journalists are simply reporting what they observe from the front lines. As we’ve just passed the 5th year anniversary of the war, journalists continue to pose the question of when an end will come. With U.S. war casualties (4,000) now far surpassing deaths from 9/11, many citizens and journalists alike are very skeptical.
I, personally, hold a lot of respect for the journalists in Iraq. After reading some of their personal stories, I cannot image the toll covering the war has taken on them. They are constantly exposed to violence and danger. They have put themselves in the line of battle in order to inform the U.S. public of what is going on. Like the brave men and women of our military, they are risking their lives for their country. However, in a sense, I have more respect for the journalists because of their dedication to provide the truth in a war campaign that has been filled with lies and deceit. So I commend them for their sacrifices.
The War in Iraq has been a long journey and will continue on far beyond Bush’s presidency. As technology continues to improve and journalists become even more frustrated with what they are witnessing on the battle lines, it will be interesting to see what the role of the media in this war eventually becomes.
