Tuesday, October 24, 2006

CNN WAR VIDEO-unpatriotic?

Rep. Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is asking the Pentagon to bar CNN from the embedding program where journalists spend time with combat units after airing b-roll last week that showed insurgents shooting at U.S. troops. Hunter says "you" can't be on both sides of the war. But who is the "you" he is referring to? Surely he is not asking CNN to take a stance as a news organization on the war effort. Or is he?! What happened to freedom of the press? Are we only free if we are shooting video that pleases the administration? Hunter further alludes that CNN was 'unpatriotic' for airing the footage. As discussed in class, I feel politics is coming into play here. God forbid we actually 'see' the truth that we aren't being told by the administration. *gasp.*I could see if the video was distorted in some way. But CNN did NOT distort the video. All they did was their job. What they purport to do as a news organization is shoot what was happening as it was happening. The reality of war is that insurgents are going to shoot at and furthermore, set off roadside bombs to injure and kill our troops. We all know that and its further evidenced by the death toll and numerous injuries. (*Tammy Duckworth*, anyone?") VIDEO DOESN'T LIE. ADMINISTRATIONS DO.

ES

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2 Comments:

At Thursday, October 26, 2006, Blogger Medill Media Watch said...

Of course the administration wants only positive imagery when it comes to the war, despite the fact that the skeletons are out of the closet. There are no weapons of mass destruction troops are dying by the day and there is seeming to be no end to this war. At least after a couple of years, our president has finally admitted that he is diappointed with the outcome of "the war on terror."
WJ

 
At Thursday, October 26, 2006, Blogger Jon Marshall said...

If the footage is putting troops in danger, then it is unpatriotic. But if it is accurately portraying reality without putting people unnecessarily in danger, then it is playing the highly patriotic role of providing information for our democracy

 

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