Geraldo Rivera wasn’t the first media representative to attach himself to a military unit in Iraq and show off his new friends to news cameras. He wasn’t the first to blend with soldiers and tell about their thoughts and conditions. He set himself apart, though, by pushing the military’s buttons on two topics that drive many U.S. citizens bonkers. Why, citizens ask, do those reporters keep telling the enemy the location and plans of troops?
It doesn’t take much to get the public going these days. Say the words “war coverage” to a group, and many folks fire off these questions: Why do reporters ask and tell about troop morale problems? Why do they ask hostile questions at news briefings? And most of all: Why do they keep saying where the troops are located and what the military plans to do?
Now’s the time to take the offensive in explaining the role of journalists in a free society. The public needs to consider three facts of reporting in war time and peace.
Journalists work in concert with, but independent of government officials.
According to a military spokeman, the experiment of embedding reporters and photojournalists with troops is working.
“This is the first time we’ve included them to this extent. It does work,” Navy Lt. Commander Charles Owens said, in a phone call from Central Command in Qatar. “It gets the story out, but there are growing pains.
“As a professional courtesy, we ask journalists not to report anything that might compromise the troops in the field. They are not censured, they are given some information on what they can and cannot do,” he said.
Generally, reporters who give the location of troops do so after an officer has indicated that it is safe to do so. The public needs to know that. Sometimes that assurance is a part of the news report. Often it is not.
Owens also said that any embedded journalists who threaten security are given one warning. If a second violation occurs, the journalist is escorted out of the unit. He said the military would not announce any “disembedding” of journalists, but he said there have been few problems. (Editor and Publisher magazine reports that 10 embedded journalists have left voluntarily.)
News reporters serve as watchdogs for society at home and abroad.
Journalists ask tough questions to hold agencies — particularly government — accountable to the public. Sometimes the exchanges are sharp, but most officials understand the importance and fairness of vigorous journalism.
Lt. Commander Owens explained it this way: “Generally you’ll find that the younger troops are more easily upset by some news reports. Leadership takes it in stride. They know this is part of the game.”
The game is about checks and balances in the public interest.
Journalists serve democracy by contributing to a free and responsible news report.
The troops have their role. So do those who report with words and visuals. The nation wouldn’t be strong without a solid military. And it wouldn’t thrive without a vigorous, ethical, courageous news media.
