As the United States poises troops in the Middle East for the almost inevitable war against Iraq, journalists face a situation that will drastically affect how the American public sees this impending conflict.
At least 500 members of the media, including about 100 members of the foreign press, will join the military as it fights this internationally controversial war, acting as the eyes and ears of the global public, specifically the Americans whose taxes will finance the conflict.
The New York Times Tuesday outlined the preliminary guidelines issued by the Pentagon for media covering the war, a process labeled “embedding,” in which reporters will be assigned slots with different units that they will accompany as the war continues.
This is a “sharp about-face,” as the Times calls it, from past restrictive Pentagon policies since the Vietnam War. During Vietnam, reporters had fewer restrictions but less technology. Many military leaders saw coverage of this war as key to the antiwar sentiment that overtook Americans at the time.
Thus, coverage of the Gulf War was highly restricted — reporters were pooled and only certain media pools had access to some places, for example.
But the new policies represent an attempt to bridge the military and media gap. This is a good thing, as the freedom of the press is an important right not to be lost during wartime.
In the United States, judges interpret laws — generals in combat aren’t hired to determine what the Constitution means. And while most journalists don’t advocate jeopardizing lives with their coverage, they must fight the prudent battle for increased access.
As college students, it is our job to evaluate information and cull from this an education in an attempt to both better our lives and gain perspective on the world’s future direction. Without the information Constitutional freedom of the press ensures, evaluating the necessity and success of this generation-defining conflict becomes essentially impossible.
Undoubtedly, Americans will question and debate the media’s role in the Iraq war before, during and after our troops attack, as many journalism students have been doing both before and since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Some will say the media is being obtrusive and hindering the military’s progress, while others will never be satisfied with the information the military will allow reporters to release.
Regardless of your stance, the media will color how you view the upcoming war. Hopefully, the public will quickly realize that without journalists patrolling the scene overseas, Americans are left without a voice in military matters.
By working with the Pentagon, the media can be a powerful tool in informing the public about what happens during war, both positive and negative.
And if the American public can’t handle what it sees, perhaps it should consider the purpose of the conflict.
Editor’s Note:Twice monthly, the Reveille’s staff will editorialize on issues of importance to the campus community. Send feedback to [email protected]