The media makes this worst?....Opinions Please!

I am entertaining the idea that the media is a contributing factor why so many cannot remain calm during this war on terrorism. I think that even now with the terror alert on high the media is allowing 'the enemy to see the effect their threats are having on American soil.

More importantly I think that media coverage of the war and also publicity of the treatment of the prisoners though informative has very real and negative impact. CNN is great but sometimes I think it also gives away some of the edge that we need.

What are some of your views..

And this is just that..your views not necessarily a right or wrong answer.....

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Posted by myasmom

I am entertaining the idea that the media is a contributing factor why so many cannot remain calm during this war on terrorism. I think that even now with the terror alert on high the media is allowing 'the enemy to see the effect their threats are having on American soil.

More importantly I think that media coverage of the war and also publicity of the treatment of the prisoners though informative has very real and negative impact. CNN is great but sometimes I think it also gives away some of the edge that we need.

What are some of your views..

And this is just that..your views not necessarily a right or wrong answer.....

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as someone who deals with the media professionally, it's a Catch 22. Anyway you look at it, the media's the bad guy.

If you say nothing and something happens, people will say, 'why weren;t we informed?'

If you put it out there, it's 'why are you getting everyone so worked up?'

but, i do agree that they will take a story and overdo it to make a point and get ratings

I'll never forget a 'plug' I saw right after 9/11. I think it was ABC. It went.

'During 9/11, we were there..blah blah blah -- we are the proven leader in news.

They used the worst event in the country's history as a plug.

Yes, I agree that the media amplifies people's fears. Michael Moore's _Bowling for Columbine_ has some very interesting and persuasive commentary on this issue. Fear sells. Fear gets people to watch ('A new disease caused by the drinking water... IN YOUR HOUSE! Tune in at 11.')

Part of the media's traditional role is to keep powers in check. But, when a handful of major corporations owns most of the newspapers, television networks, and radio stations, is it really keeping powers in check? Not so much. For example, are major corporate-owned television stations likely to criticize the politicians who cut their taxes? Not so much.

Getting back to the 'keeping powers in check' idea, I believe that it was necessary and very important to have major coverage of the Abu Ghraib torture. If torture is something that gives Americans an 'edge' in the 'war on terror,' as a citizen I want no part of it. Torture is one of the top human rights violations. Torture is, to borrow a phrase from G.W. Bush, an enemy of freedom. Torture is a hallmark of totalitarian regimes. We cannot let torture go unpunished -- and media coverage shaming the perpetrators is part of that punishment.

Yeah everything is a catch 22. But if you want to see how media went wrong..look at the publicity of the torture of the war prisoners. Had the media not made it public at the time and waited as requested the retaliation on innocent people may not had happended. Well I think it would have happened but maybe later out of desperation.

I feel bad for the soldiers who are going to be court marshalled..especially the lower ranking ones who were charged. They acted on orders and are the scapegoats. In the military you have 2 choices..do what your commanding officer tells you or get court marshalled.

The media and the public deserve info but in times of war..control of certain types of information are everything. The media could be a big reason Osama got away. All the talk then action at a later date..hello..that to me was a WARNING and gave Osama time to pack his bags.