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News Reporting War

MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY

4. ‘Often Wars (especially distant ones) and the object of winning them will have to be sold to the public. This often involves the manipulation of truth to maintain popular support' (Taylor, P ‘War and the media'). Critically examine the role of television in the reporting of either the Falklands or the first Gulf War or the current war on terrorism in the light of this quote.

‘There's no news, like bad news'. Since the days of reporting, the media has always known that bad news will sell more papers than good news. In the television world, it will always have a bigger audience. Scholars have concluded that we tune into bad news for many reasons. Mostly, as a self-esteem clause, by seeing pain in others, we feel relieved we are not experiencing the same afflictions. This makes us feel better, and therefore improves our state of mind.
Another theory is that we like to prepare for the future, by learning what troubles others have, and we learn how to avoid those factors for ourselves. Others just expect that we like to tune into the latest gossip. When it comes to War, we tune in, as we feel the need to stay connected to the world. However the government, and media political parties have learned that this need for news can be a far greater weapon than any gun or bomb.

Currently America is at war with Afghanistan. The American President has unfortunately been fighting a war on two fronts however, one with their country, and one with his own American people. When America went to war, if was not in the public belief that it was a good idea. One view for this, was even though there way of living was poor by our standards, they selected there own leaders, and have the option to revolt against them if they should want to. They have the power themselves to change there own country, and by doing the job for them, makes us a primary target for there attack. Which is what has happened. Terrorist movements working from within Afghanistan...