 "Photo: Staff")
The media is a fun punching bag. Conservatives bash it as biased and liberals complain it is apathetic and controlled by economic interests; even those who work in the field seem to have serious criticisms. But during wartime, when the government is lying and ideologies are exaggerated, journalists risk their lives to give the public accurate information. With all the deception in Iraq, a special honor should go to the few who have died telling the truth.
Forty-three journalists have died since the beginning of the war in Iraq, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which is already more than half the number who died in Vietnam (66 according to Freedom Forum). Nine of these casualties were the result of U.S. fire and five others in circumstances where the source was indiscernible (during crossfire). Solely based on the numbers, it's not unreasonable to believe the casualties were legitimate mistakes, especially compared with the number of U.S. soldiers killed by friendly fire.
But there is a troubling pattern of harassment toward journalists in Iraq by U.S. soldiers and an unwillingness from the Pentagon to properly investigate the deaths. According to CPJ, 30 U.S. and international media organizations signed a letter to Pentagon spokesperson Lawrence DiRita that stated the media had "documented numerous examples of U.S. troops physically harassing journalists and in some cases, confiscating or ruining equipment, digital camera discs and videotapes."
Several weeks ago, CNN Chief News Executive Eason Jordan resigned because of remarks he allegedly made in late January at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. According to bloggers - relying mainly on testimony from people who attended the off-the-record forum with no public transcript - Jordan accused U.S. troops of intentionally targeting journalists in Iraq. Cries ensued that Jordan "slimed the troops" and was unpatriotic. Never mind the fact that Jordan denies the validity of the pseudo-quote. There is ample evidence of harassment in Iraq, but CNN never actually reported anything of the sort. Jordan's chief responsibility isn't to the troops, it's to the public. In such a fervently nationalistic atmosphere, it's already difficult for journalists to run embarrassing or critical stories about U.S. soldiers - how can they address military misconduct when news executives are being lynched for having suspicions?
Military misconduct may not be as grave as murdering journalists, but it is clearly a problem and goes largely unreported because of public backlash. Sometimes what should be headlines at home can only be found in other countries: The Guardian, a London-based British newspaper, reported Feb. 18 there is evidence pointing to Abu Ghraib-style torture in the U.S.-controlled Bagram prison of Afghanistan, including rape and sexual humiliation. Heinous treatment of inmates, civilians and even other soldiers is occurring in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and it gets far too little press.
However, public pressure isn't the only thing contributing to paltry journalism. Journalists who are embedded are compromised because of their extremely close contact with and supervision by American troops and the tunnel vision that results. According to CPJ, embedded reporters must stay with their units and are unable to interview insurgents or civilians affected by U.S. military action. Their access is limited - diminishing the quality of photographs - and their stories are monitored.
Those who forego the safety of being embedded to gain independence and breadth of reporting are known as "unilaterals" who find themselves vulnerable and are denied information from the U.S. military - sometimes even harassed. There have been many confirmed instances of journalists being detained, their equipment confiscated and even assaulted by U.S. soldiers. According to The Guardian, two Reuters journalists were detained by U.S. forces for 72 hours, bags were put over their heads and they were intimidated and brutalized. At one point, a soldier allegedly shoved a shoe into the mouth of one of the journalists.
Quality journalism is under assault from far too many angles. Activist organizations - and the public at large - put misguided pressure on the media to be nationalistic and "supportive" of U.S. troops, even when it compromises their ability to tell the full truth. The Pentagon is excluding and harassing independent journalists, while engineering an "embed" program that provides only half-coverage. And in the face of all this, journalists face a very real danger to their own lives.
As consumers of the media and constituents of our government, we have the power to protect a free press. It will always remain, however, that wartime reporting is perilous. Fortunately, this world is blessed with people willing to risk their lives for the truth. We should let them.
-Joe Zarro is an English and philosophy senior and editor in chief for The Daily Aztec.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec or its advertisers. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed - include your full name, major and year in school.
Be the first to comment on this article!