National Embedded Media - Admission/Application Essay Example

National Embedded Media CONTENTS Abstract Facts and Ideas (1) Spanish-American War (2) Covering War (3) Example of the Iraq experience (4) Media and Military (5) Future of Media and Military Conclusion ABSTRACT The Media, also known as the Forth Estate has come to play a very important role in our lives, especially with the onset on the 19th century. It plays an important part in informing the masses, while also influencing their own opinions, attitudes and agendas. The media can make or mar the image of a particular person or organization, in the eyes of the masses. Hence, it is very evident that the media has a very imperative role to play in a democracy, especially. This article talks about the national embedded media in the United States. The media plays a very important role in times of war, primarily because the occurrences at the war front are informed about, to the general public, via the media. The media also ensures that the countrymen know why their country is at war and what the day-to-day occurrences are. This would not only lead to national integrity but would also infuse more trust, a strong back-up and patriotism. It would serve as a unifying force. Apart from this, the negative effect it can have is that it could provide fodder for gossip, malicious reports and wrong information. FACTS AND IDEAS It all started with the Spanish-American War in 1898, which was certainly an important event in shaping the history of America. The War was called the ‘Newspaper War’, because of the huge role played by the press, in covering the events and instances of the war. When an American war ship, USS Maine, was destroyed in the Cuban harbour, the media played a very prominent role in influencing public opinion and instigating them to such a great extent that war followed two months after the incident. One still needs to contemplate critically over the idea, if the media actually reflected the public’s desire to go to war actually played a role in instigating and provoking the reaction. When the Cuban rebellion took place, newspapers went berserk with news pertaining to the rebellion, which became the prime selling point for them. “The rising circulation rates of the Journal and other New York newspapers during this period of "jingoism" show that the drama made money, and the competition was too tight to throw the money away. Many papers lowered standards so much that they routinely carried news items directly off the pages of their rivals.” (http://www.humboldt.edu/~jcb10/spanwar.shtml) In fact, this is considered one of the originating events of what we call ‘Yellow Journalism’ or sensationalisation, today. The newspapers ensured that every movement of the American army was tracked, and every action of the opposition was read by readers back home. In fact, one of the important and ill-famous headlines was ‘Spain’s Minister Insults American President’. This saw America’s public protest in outrage. This is one of the first instances that saw media play an important role in war. From then on, the Media and the Military have had complementary roles to play. For instance, when the military is at war, the media often acts as the outlet for releasing all the negativity and also helps in relaying news. The media, on the other hand, finds it lucrative though callously put, the whole phenomena of war, since it implies better opportunities for work and greater sales. The role of the media during times of war can be both, positive and negative. It can be positive when the media acts as the source of disseminating information and in influencing positivity and hope. The media often helps in boosting morale and keeping patriotism rather high. This happens when the press plays a responsible role. However, when the media relies more on mere propaganda and publicity, thriving on sensationalizing news and on yellow journalism, it turns out to be negative publicity. In fact, the media might sometimes reveal the army’s plans and secrets that become evident at the war zone, and help the opposition unknowingly, in gaining access to the information. Thus, the role of the media is often a dubious one. “For reporters covering this war [on terrorism], the challenge is not just in getting unfettered and uncensored access to U.S. troops and the battlefield—a long and mostly losing struggle in the past—but in discerning between information and disinformation. That is made all the more difficult by a 24-hour news cycle, advanced technology, and the military’s growing fondness for a discipline it calls “Information Operations.” IO, as it is known, groups together information functions ranging from public affairs (PA, the military spokespersons corps) to military deception and psychological operations, or PSYOP. What this means is that people whose job traditionally has been to talk to the media and divulge truthfully what they are able to tell now work hand-in-glove with those whose job it is to support battlefield operations with information, not all of which may be truthful.” (Maud S. Beelman, The Dangers of Disinformation in the War on Terrorism, Coverage of Terrorism Women and Journalism: International Perspectives, from Nieman Reports Magazine, Winter 2001, Vol. 55, No.4, p.16. (from The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University) In fact, the dilemma of war-coverage is one that has hounded many a war journalist. Ethics of Journalism, becomes an oxymoron during the period, since one doesn’t know where to draw the boundary and how to convey positivity in the midst of a heavily negative atmosphere. In fact in 2003, when the American invasion of Iraq took place, the media was ‘embedded’ in troops. In other words, they were covering the war in close quarters, and were in fact almost tied-up with the military. The reporting was predominantly biased, since the media definitely was supporting the invasion and was not looking at providing a rational, objective picture. It was all about justifying the invasion, by providing supporting factoids or even fragments of imagination! It was all about providing the worried public back home, with news that would sort of provide justification to their angst, while also providing a positive picture to the international community that denounced any such violence. The website of the Army of the United States declares as its mission, “Public Affairs fulfills the Army's obligation to keep the American people and the Army informed, and helps to establish the conditions that lead to confidence in America's Army and its readiness to conduct operations in peacetime, conflict and war.” It is evident that the embedded media plays the role of establishing public relations, in promoting the ideals of the military and helping the masses comprehend the reasons behind what it is doing. However, Robert D.Kaplan, while throwing light on the phenomena of embedded media, says, “Even with the embed phenomenon the media still manifest a far more intimate—one might say incestuous—relationship with politicians, international diplomats, businesspeople, academics, and humanitarian-relief workers than with the U.S. military. Given that all these groups push various political agendas, it is fair to ask why embedding has struck a raw nerve.” (Robert D.Kaplan, “The Media and the Military”) CONCLUSION From the above discussion on the various positive and negative effects of the national embedded media with the military, one can certainly comprehend the importance of the media in the light of war. The future of embedded media cannot be ascertained wholly, though one certainly hopes that it does not have a very important role to play, as one does not want warring circumstances, in any case. In case of war, the embedded media should work towards providing accurate, objective and a wholesome picture, without distorting facts. This would increase its value and its appeal amongst the masses. REFERENCES Website: http://www.humboldt.edu/~jcb10/spanwar.shtml Website: http://www.army.mil/info/institution/publicaffairs/ Maud S. Beelman, The Dangers of Disinformation in the War on Terrorism, Coverage of Terrorism Women and Journalism: International Perspectives, from Nieman Reports Magazine, Winter 2001, Vol. 55, No.4, p.16. (from The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University The Media and the Military, Robert. D. Kaplan. Read More