The AP

[BMT (RIP)]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/15/bu...gewanted=print

BMT

[fusion94]

Having dated an AP reporter for 6 months I'm suprised that they aren't just ignoring the problem.

[Gypsy]

Mr. Silverman said the editors were asking for help in making sense of the situation. "I was glad to have that discussion with the editors because they have to deal with the perception that the media is emphasizing the negative," he said.

It's more than a perception...

...it was much easier to add up the number of dead than to determine how many hospitals received power on a particular day or how many schools were built.

Funny...with a little bit of real investigative reporting they would "unearth" that info. Asking the Troops or leaders on the ground comes to mind...

Gahhh why bother, they're ensconced in their hotel rooms reporting second or third hand info. If they really want to report what's going on they need to get out like some others manage to do.

[Solid]

Guys,
I haven't been here in a while, so I am genuinely apologetic if this is overstepping my ... "credit" if you will, but:
Ease up on the press. I'm currently studying the effects the press have had on the develoipment of warfare, and yes, every time I see an article coming out of Iraq, I feel my blood heat up. However, there are several things you need to keep in mind, in my opinion.

1. A lot of Iraq is still a very, very dangerous place. It seems that either the insurgents have recognized the political capital of press-hostages, or that the criminals see the monetary capital of them. Either way, they press is being hit. It's their job to report, but remember- these people aren't in the military. They are not used to putting their lives in the hands of superiors. Neither are the majority of (non-vet) civilians on this board. I feel that this should be recognized.

2. Bad news is the best news. There's a reason bad news sells so well- it's because the audience prefers it to 'all quiet on the eastern front' news.

3. Education is nowhere near where it should be in any western country. People are not critically minded. Therefore, the above points- which SERIOUSLY effect the news coming out of Iraq- are not applied when determining how realistic the information picture on Iraq is. The average person doesn't have the critical faculties to think that way because the education system doesn't imbue them with them.

Bottom line for me: Yes, the news coming out of Iraq is sh*tty and one-sided. But also, Yes, there are some good reasons for it and Yes, it's not ONLY the AP's fault.

Again, that's Just my opinion and I apologise if I've overstepped.

Solid

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Solid

Guys,
I haven't been here in a while, so I am genuinely apologetic if this is overstepping my ... "credit" if you will, but:

Ease up on the press.

Again, that's Just my opinion and I apologise if I've overstepped.

Solid

Solid,

I hope you have "dug in" and prepared your position to include overhead cover.

Team Sergeant

[The Reaper]

It occurs to me that if it is the media's job to question everything good, report only the bad news, and to slant reporting to make the point they want made, then it is the public's job to call them to task, demand fairness and accuracy, and criticize them openly when they fail.

You look at how the NYT, the Washington Post, LA Times, and the three major networks have regularly editorialized, minimized reporting on points they disagree with, exaggerated claims that supported their position, however dubious, and flat out made up stories. I would say that they (along with most of the rest of the mainstream media) have attempted to use their bully pulpit to propagandize and promote their leftist causes (and largely to undermine the President) in a manner of reporting fit for Josef Goebbels.

If We, The People cannot question flawed and deceptive reporting, then who will watch those who consider themselves the watchers? Do you consider the media beyond scrutiny, Sir?

I think reporting a war via third hand sources from a hotel, in Saigon or Baghdad, is not reporting, but is storytelling. If they are afraid to go out with the troops, go home and quit pretending to be a combat journalist.

TR

[Solid]

TR:
I agree with you there. Those reporters who are genuinely imbedded are doing a very brave thing, and, in my eyes, the right thing. Those that are reporting 'public wisdom' from a suite, especially public wisdom which hurts a wareffort, rank low in my books. What I was really aiming to do with my argument was to play devil's advocate and point out some 'market driven' problems in reporting which are pretty hard to control for the reporters on the ground.

I also very much agree that it is the public's job, as it is in any situation, to critique the organization that they feel is doing poorly.

In hindsight, I would suggest a different angle: the job of critiquing those reports from the field should first fall to the editors and newspaper owners. While they respond to market pressures, they are also the ones who shape the news their newspapers sell. Currently, as you correctly point out, they minimize the reporting on views outside of their spectrum (like good news coming out of Iraq). If they were to make an effort to get good, high quality news which creates a better information picture on Iraq or Astan, I think that the competition would have to follow suit, as would freelance reporters etc.

Interestingly, in my studies I engaged several professors (some right, some left, most center) of public policy at my school in conversation over the general political proclivities of the media. The majority suggested that with proper critical faculties and people reading more than one news source, the view that would result would be largely centrist. The problem is that people don't necessarily have the time of proclivity to read more than one paper from a different political viewpoint- so many leftists pick their leftist rag and rightists their rightist rag and remain happily ignorant to the otherside of the story. At least, this was what the professors said.


As always, this is just my opinion, and is as ever subject to change.

Thanks for the critique TR, and TS- I'm still learning how to construct the perfect defensive perimeter, and thanks for the advise!

Have a good afternoon,

Solid