Posted on 09/27/2003 5:18:30 PM PDT by inPhase
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- As Bush administration officials and Pentagon chiefs peddle their $87 billion supplemental bill for Iraq next year - even as President Bush's popularity on the issue wanes -- they have a new enemy in their sites. Not Saddam or Osama, but the media.
As they see it, the problem in Iraq is not so much the almost daily casualties or the pace of rebuilding but the fact that the news media keeps harping on it, at the expense of reporting "good news."
"I understand that breaking news is largely driven by bad news. That's a structural defect of a free press," said L. Paul Bremer, the American administrator in Iraq, at a House Armed Services Committee Hearing Thursday.
The conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington is holding a symposium next week on the very topic. "Is the Bush administration losing control of the situation on the ground, or is the media transforming a military victory into a defeat?" asks a flyer for the Oct. 7 panel discussion. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell talked about the skewed news on Late Night with David Letterman on Thursday.
"It's a troublesome issue that we're all very concerned about," said Army Chief of Staff Gen. John Keane at the same hearing. "The American people need to have the (good) information to help balance the daily loss of life."
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
The answer, of course, is both. The White House and Pentagon have bully pulpits and enormous budgets to tell their story.
Not true. The White House and the Pentagon may have pulpits, but the "bully" pulpit belongs to the TV anchor man. So yes, journalism should be a voice for the people in Iraq who have no voice--that is an apt description of the poor grunt trying to do his job and stay alive--while journalism gives Saddam's acolytes what they are killing for--positive ink as a credible threat to the US military.Reporters, however, make their reputations on stories that effect change. When resources force them to pick, the latter will nearly always triumph. In my opinion, that's about the way it should be.That network anchorman works for a company which is in business through the good graces of the United States government--in the form of the FCC. It is in the national interest that the portion of the truth which government-licensed broadcasters tell be fairly representative of "what's going on in Iraq." "What's going on in Iraq" is not limited to bad news--and a government-licensed broadcast journalist should be required to make that clear as a condition of retaining their license.
In my opinion, that's a good reason to read a book instead of the front page of a newspaper.
Since that Georgia Dem wrote his good news article it has been better. The promo for Geraldo's show tonight said there will be a general on discussing good news tonight.
This SOB employee of UPI fails to mention the glowing praise the North Vietnamese Communist had for the American press. IMO the Communists' "most trusted man in America," Walter Cronkite was the biggest liar and cost the lives of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Vietnamese. Without his lies the Communists may have been willing to look for a way out in 1968. There is no question in my mind the American left wanted a U.S. defeat not just and end to the war.
Same today except they want us to be "rescued" by an international coalition of their leftist comrades.
And they should tell the truth at all times.
Uh.. the UPI employee is talking about the military. What about reporters?
Reporters, however, make their reputations on stories that effect change.
"Truth? I don't need no stinkin' truth -- I just want to make a difference. That's why I are a journalist."
Uh, Ms UPI PENTAGON Reporter, General Keane is the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army--has been for years. General Pete Schoomaker took charge over a month ago from Shinseki.
What do you think would happen to a Dallas newspaper sports reporter who didn't know Bill Parcells was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys a month into the season? Yet these idiot reporters on the military don't know even the most basic facts.
this is a hotly debated political issue -- that media outlets should not be expected to parrot for the Bush administration.
And notice how she frames the issue up front in her story--that its either the negative/incomplete reporting we get now or else being a "parrot for the Bush administration". Just remember when you read the news, even-handed reporting or good news = "parrot for Bush administration".
But it is O.K. for them to be a parrot for the leftist dims.
Actually, she was on Washington Journal on C-SPAN two Fridays ago, and she's not as bad as many. She was telling Brian about the many positive things she saw there, and how great the soliers were. Obviously the hardcore leftists didn't like that since they got vicious (asking her if the words 'ugly' and 'whore' meant anything to her!).
I don't know how UPI classified it, but I take it as opinion. It is sort of a 'travelogue' of her time in Iraq and reflection on the current controversy over coverage. My Post#30 mentions her appearance on C-SPAN, this is almost a recap of that. I just happened across another piece by her that is a pretty straight-forward news story.
Bremer: Kuwait, Saudi claim on Iraq unfair; should give up their reparation claims for 1990 invasion
As we all know. Thank God for FOX News and conservative talk radio.
These liberal liars no longer go unchallenged.
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