Vietnam War and the Media
The Vietnam War and the United States media engaged in a complex relationship in the 1960s and 1970s, and for the first time, Americans witnessed the influence of the media on the outcomes of an unpopular war. The core of their association was based upon the necessity to keep the general public informed on the events of the war and the devastation experienced by American soldiers, including dramatic loss of life, life-threatening injuries, and intense violence. While many Americans believed that the media coverage was too intrusive and disrespectful, the journalists and television reporters were often required to defend themselves to a disgruntled audience, who virtually witnessed many key moments of the war on their television sets. It is widely believed that because of the tremendous coverage presented on television during the Vietnam War, media coverage of major events would never be the same. The absolute intrusion of reporters into a dangerous and deadly war zone resulted in raw, disturbing footage of deadly violence displayed all over American television sets. As a result of these experiences, media coverage has developed into an invasive and disturbing instrument that interferes with privacy and personal freedom, and consequently, many innocent lives are destroyed in the process. The following discussion will develop this hypothesis in detail through an analysis of the media coverage during Vietnam and its consequences. Furthermore, the discussion will provide a thorough analysis of the events surrounding the Vietnam War that resulted in an invasion of the battlefield by a selfish media who were eager to provide television viewers with a brutal display of the front lines of America's most unpopular war.
Advantages of Media Coverage of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was encompassed in a virtual media frenzy, with reporters flocking to the scene to cover one of the bloodiest wars in American history. As a result, Americans were informed of the latest news and casualties that were lost during each battle of the war. In addition, the media provided Americans with updates on government press events and other speaking engagements that related to the war. This wealth of information provided Americans with the ability to observe the war through still photos and live footage. They were able to develop their own views concerning the war with the assistance of a well-informed media presence. Media coverage in Vietnam stirred many emotions in Americans who witnessed them, and this led to a pro- or con- stance surrounding the war itself and its underlying factors. Finally, the extensive media coverage that defined the Vietnam War was instrumental in providing Americans with a reality check because the war was an actual event in which American soldiers were dying at alarming rates. The media gave Americans without any comprehension of war a perspective that convinced them to believe that the war was real and that people close to them were losing their lives each and every day.
Disadvantages of the Media Invasion into Vietnam
The tremendous interest in the Vietnam War led to a number of realities regarding the intrusion of the media onto the front lines. Reporters who entered the war zone were taking enormous risks regarding their safety in order to capture the best possible footage of the bloody action. As a result, Americans were fed with constant coverage of the war that included numerous visions of ambulances, wounded soldiers, and body bags, often too disturbing for a typical American family. This reporting technique was termed "Action News" and provided Americans with pictures of real soldiers fighting for their lives in the midst of horrendous bloodshed. These images were often disturbing to most Americans, but they were also intriguing on some level. By January 1967, several hundred journalists were covering the war and the events of the day were publicized on the national news.2
Americans were exposed to violent combat and bloodshed as they ate their dinners. In addition, detailed descriptions of soldiers and their preparations for battle were depicted all over the place. Finally, many news reports portrayed American soldiers as relentless in their efforts to harm Vietnamese women and children at alarming rates.3 Although the effects of this direct exposure to viewers were never measured or publicized on a widespread scale, the effects were evident because the Vietnam War was the first television war, and many Americans were dramatically affected by its events. Parents would engage in heated conversations regarding the war and its devastation at home in front of their children.2 Many young people who disagreed with the premise and necessity...
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