“Pictures often lie.
In war, truth is the first casualty.”
- Phillip Knightley, 1999
Satellite and advancements in communication meant that Vietnam was a landmark war for media coverage and for the first time we were finally getting ‘real’ images of war brought to our living rooms. And so like never before, the people of America, Canada, Australia, France, China and others involved in the Invasion of North Vietnam were able to see graphic pictures of a war they were involved in; and they weren’t happy with what they saw.
And they fought for their right to anti-war protests in an era where hippies tied themselves to trees and everyone thrived on ‘Make love not war’ paraphernalia…but have we since hardened-up to the images we see? Have we have slipped into a cosy bed of acceptance for war, or do the BBC and CNN offer us a sanitised version of its reality?
The media has a profound effect on public opinion. Period. It’s why the law makes sure Journalists shut our big mouths during trials and equally, why we are forever in court over acts of defamation...there is no wonder that the media is a hot propaganda apparatus during wartime.
The danger here lies when you have an outlet like the BBC: you have deadlines, you have a news slot to fill, you have competition, a budget and you have people to keep happy (namely government bodies and sensitive viewers). After this, what you are left with, in most cases, is a ‘safe’ news bulletin.
Much of what we see in Iraq shows the ebb and flow of battle, nothing new, nothing offensive, nothing to be upset about…though nothing to be affected by either. Keeping it safe is a dangerously common theme…and what we are left with is passive viewing.
I understand that it is impossible to replicate the violent scale of war on a news bulletin; its nature is so remote from normal life that it just will not happen. And I understand that the BBC must concern itself with the protection of children. But this must be measured against the public’s right to know and see accurate realities of war, so they can conjure opinion, debate and vote.
What I do suggest is that outlets like the BBC rethink their current war coverage model and consider this, while admittedly delicate, so very crucial, balance. Journalists should not be led into the tempting world of generalised or ‘safe’ war footage. Our responsibility as the ‘fifth estate’ is far too important in a democratic society that prides itself on a ‘free press’.
Independent Middle Eastern news station, Al Jazeera (below), has a model of openness compared to that of the BBC.
And they fought for their right to anti-war protests in an era where hippies tied themselves to trees and everyone thrived on ‘Make love not war’ paraphernalia…but have we since hardened-up to the images we see? Have we have slipped into a cosy bed of acceptance for war, or do the BBC and CNN offer us a sanitised version of its reality?
The media has a profound effect on public opinion. Period. It’s why the law makes sure Journalists shut our big mouths during trials and equally, why we are forever in court over acts of defamation...there is no wonder that the media is a hot propaganda apparatus during wartime.
The danger here lies when you have an outlet like the BBC: you have deadlines, you have a news slot to fill, you have competition, a budget and you have people to keep happy (namely government bodies and sensitive viewers). After this, what you are left with, in most cases, is a ‘safe’ news bulletin.
Much of what we see in Iraq shows the ebb and flow of battle, nothing new, nothing offensive, nothing to be upset about…though nothing to be affected by either. Keeping it safe is a dangerously common theme…and what we are left with is passive viewing.
I understand that it is impossible to replicate the violent scale of war on a news bulletin; its nature is so remote from normal life that it just will not happen. And I understand that the BBC must concern itself with the protection of children. But this must be measured against the public’s right to know and see accurate realities of war, so they can conjure opinion, debate and vote.
What I do suggest is that outlets like the BBC rethink their current war coverage model and consider this, while admittedly delicate, so very crucial, balance. Journalists should not be led into the tempting world of generalised or ‘safe’ war footage. Our responsibility as the ‘fifth estate’ is far too important in a democratic society that prides itself on a ‘free press’.
Independent Middle Eastern news station, Al Jazeera (below), has a model of openness compared to that of the BBC.
First photo from Vietnam Veterans of America, second photo from SMH.com.au
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