UPDATED - ColdType

WAR CALLS AND THE
NEWS BIZ RUSHES TO ENLIST
NEW YORK FEBRUARY 25, 2003 — War calls,
and many a journalist is answering. Throughout
the world, media organizations are planning
their sojourns to Baghdad. All want to be in
place for the “big one.” They are lining up at
Iraqi missions asking for visas. Others are trying
to get the U.S. military to give them a front row
seat.
In the old days, there was a sharp debate about
whether to get ‘in bed” with the people you are
covering. Today it is the military that is pursuing
a policy of “embedding” journalists with U.S.
units. Back in the Gulf War, reporters had to
demand access. Today, it is the military doing the
demanding.
Why? “What is driving this is a fear that Iraq
will win the propaganda war if reporters are not
on the ground with troops,” writes Dave Moniz,
of USA Today. As a result, explains News World:
“The Pentagon has pledged that reporters will
gain more access to troops on the ground during
a war with Iraq. But the promise has met with a
mixed response from journalists. Most welcomed
the move, but some questioned whether
the fine words would be translated into action,
while others questioned the Bush administration’s
motives. The U.S. press corps heavily criticized
the Pentagon for keeping journalists away
from the action during the recent war in
Afghanistan.”
At a recent media panel in New York, Judith
Miller of The New York Times says that the
PRODUCING THE WAR
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press will “not allow” the Pentagon to exclude
them. She and other journalists are also taking
training in self-protection. If she goes, she says
she will learn how to use a suit to defend against
chemical warfare. Chris Cramer, president of
CNN International, revealed that 500 CNN journalists
have already taken war safety training.
Globalvision recently lost an intern to the adventure
promised in taking pictures of the soldiers
in training in the deserts of Qatar.
Access to the war is one concern – shilling for
it is another. Far too many journalists take an
uncritical, even fawning attitude towards men in
uniform. Says Cokie Roberts on NPR: “I am, I will
just confess to you, a total sucker for the guys
who stand up with all the ribbons on and stuff
and if they say it’s true, I’m ready to believe it.”
Independent radio producer and author David
Barsamian amplifies this point: “When the U.S.
marches to war, the media march with it. And
within the media the generals generally are
heavily armed with microphones. The din of collateral
language is rising to cacophonous levels.
The mobilization and ubiquity of present and
past brass on the airwaves is an essential component
of manufacturing consent for war.”
He assessed U.S. media coverage earlier this
month. On PBS’ NewsHour on Thursday, January
2 with Ray Suarez as host, the lead story was
Iraq. The guests were Patrick Lang, U.S. Army
and John Warden, U.S. Air Force. Geoffrey
Kemp, a war hawk and ex-Reagan NSC staffer
joined them. The discussion totally focused on
strategies and tactics.
“How many troops would be needed to do the
job? What would the bombing campaign look
like? And the inevitable, when will the war
begin? It’s kind of like placing bets on a bowl