Heroes, Schmeroes
Well, if you needed proof that media coverage or the war is hideously skewed, the Media Research Center has documented it.
It may be weeks or longer before officials announce what, if any, charges will be filed stemming from allegations that U.S. Marines killed Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha last November. But the allegations themselves have triggered a frenzy of network news coverage over the past three weeks, much as did allegations of abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison back in 2004.
While ABC, CBS and NBC have chosen to highlight this potential scandal, a new Media Research Center study finds those same networks have given far less attention to the heroic deeds of the 20 members of the U.S. military who have received the highest recognition for bravery since the war on terror began. In fact, 14 of the country's top 20 medal recipients have gone unmentioned by ABC, CBS and NBC.
The difference in coverage is astounding.
The investigation isn't over, but on May 17 NBC Nightly News opted to put the story back in the headlines after comments from anti-war Congressman John Murtha. From that date through June 7, the networks have aired 99 stories or segments suggesting U.S. military misconduct — three and a half hours of coverage in three weeks. ABC has hit the story the hardest, with 85½ minutes of coverage on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, This Week and Nightline. NBC aired 67 minutes on Today, Nightly News and Meet the Press, while CBS broadcast 58 minutes on The Early Show, CBS Evening News and Face the Nation.
Much of the coverage has been repetitive, reviewing the allegations and the still unfinished investigation. At the same time, the networks have presumed a guilty verdict and a blow to the overall American military's reputation. "Will Haditha be the My Lai of the Middle East?" asked Nightline co-host Terry Moran on May 25, referring to the killing of hundreds of Vietnamese civilians back in 1968. Filling in as anchor of the May 31 CBS Evening News, Russ Mitchell pronounced that "if the allegations prove true, they'd be a huge new blow to the American military's standing with Iraq's government and it's people."
That's three and a half hours in only three weeks. Versus less than 52 minutes worth of total coverage of any medal recipient since the war began. That's pretty pathetic. And very telling, as well. Who cares about real heroes when you can repeat rumor and innuendo endlessly.
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The Wide Awake Cafe » Soldiers Will Always be My Heroes — June 13, 2006 @ 10:13 am
By Blackhawk, June 13, 2006 @ 9:43 am
Gaius, thanks for posting this.
By Gaius, June 13, 2006 @ 9:50 am
It’s pretty shameful, I think.
By Black Jack, June 13, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Let’s face facts. The MSM isn’t on our side, they don’t support the troops or the Administration. They are contemptuous of the outcome of our elections. And, their activities are, by and large, indistinguishable from those of enemy agents in the information war against American interests. And, the truth is not in them.
By Blackhawk, June 13, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
I think the MSM, in general, is lazy. Lazy in thought and action. This just proves it. MSM is nothing more than willows that blow in the wind…
By Roland Hesz, June 14, 2006 @ 12:56 am
Modern media line: Good news are not news. Soldiers’ got medal, successfull surgery, working social program, teacher loved by students..
Show me one news like these, anywhere…
You won’t find. In local newspapers. Maybe.
No matter where you are, media will go for the scandal, the outrageous, hunting for the negative side.
It’s not about “whose side they are on”.
It’s about people buying the magazines, and lets face it, “Innocent children slaughtered by bloodthirsty soldiers” sells better than “Soldiers doing good job receive recognition”.
I think that’s all.. No conspiracy. Plain sell the paper rules…
And yes, it is sad.