All Is Fair In Press In War
If war is the gun, mass media and the press pulls the trigger. Over an extended amount of history, we have seen the changing relationships between the war, the media, and the public due to press in war. While all is fair in love in war, is the same said for the press?
The approach to war by the press is one that is heavily inconsistent, and dangerous. Not all of the conflict and war that the country faces needs to be engaged with full attentions of the people, yet they make that decision on their own. This is not to lead astray the argument that the people don't deserve to be informed of what is happening overseas or even in their own backyard, however, to be absolute that the information out there is nothing short of accurate and true.
The press, arguably, covers the war in ways that serves them the crown victory. Ground breaking headlines, terrifying captions and descriptions, and little to no room to question if the information readers are digesting is true or exaggerated heavily. These words touch globally, and can not only affect the mental state of millions, but acquire global attention and affect the war even further.
Furthermore, who is to say if the conflict the press is highlighting is erasing all attention of another? If the headline of one conflict is more attention grabbing, as it seeks, the other conflict might as well have never been posted. The response of an international community could be desired, as only domestic is cared for.
Nonetheless, war sells. In a Columbia Strategic Analysis Journal by Ajai K. Rai, it is explained that "Media can forge bonds between the home front and the fighting front-increasing civilian commitment to the war, while raising the morale of combatants." With this, governments generally seek to protect the press in wartime in order to convince citizen's of a war's "justness and the enemy's implacability."
Long before "influencers" and "celebrity journalists" that are present in our current age, war reporters have illustrated themselves as extraordinary people operating in challenging circumstances: "Soldiers without the means of self defense, who court danger in order to bring back news from hell" (London: Hamish and Hamilton, 1995).
While it is not to ultimately decide that press is only deserved to shine in a negative light when concerned with war, it is fair to waver the advantages and disadvantages that it brings about. We can be nothing short of grateful and prayerful for those journalists who put their life on the lines as much as soldiers, only without protection, to keep our nation informed. However, we as an age in a world of technological advancements and developments, need to take a moment to make sure our sources are credible and trustworthy before we subject ourselves to a war unneeded.
Related Links
International Humanitarian Law Protecting Journalists in Conflict
Reporting From The Front Lines
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