Iraq War and Credibility of the Fourth Estate - Coursework Example

If we look back into the sequence of the events, we can understand the influence of international politics on the Fourth Estate. The pity is when there was a case for repenting, and there was an opportunity for penance, it was not used but slipped up. Then it became too late for everything. It should not be misconstrued that the study is biased from the outset. The point is, there was hype, and the tabloids were sucked in, ignoring their responsibility. Probably this is the better face-saving explanation for tabloids, as there are sinister implications suspected in their role.

It is in this backdrop, we analyze the causes which led the tabloids to stoop to such a level in their behaviour, to see were there any exceptions by way of solace to the injured feelings. In order to understand the whole process in right perspective, we have to study whether there were strong motivations or shreds of evidence in their possession to believe that they were reporting in good faith, and the consequences and the implications of the press coverage. Miller, D. stated with forthright: ‘SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 2001 THE PROPAGANDA machine in the US (and the UK) has been cranked up to levels not seen outside the 1939-45 war.

It should be no surprise that the content of the propaganda cranked out quietly to selected journalists…’ (2003, p.4, p.5) Miller, D. in his Tell me lies: Propaganda and Media Distortion in the Attack on Iraq, explained further about the strategies adopted by US and UK which included lies, falsehood, official misinformation, off the record briefing, disguised sources and planting the stories through the trusted journalists. In the pre-Iraq war drama, the issue of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ or ‘nuclear weapons’ talked about very loudly, and the denial of Iraq in this regard was never important for the tabloids.