The News Media and Military Operations
Abstract
The military/media relationship is seriously degraded because of mistrust between the two entities. Sources of this mistrust are analyzed, to include: cultural differences; the perception of biased reporting; misunderstanding and ignorance; and speculation. The pros and cons of permitting media coverage of military operations are analyzed, including the following topics: free press in a democracy; security; public opinion; logistics; and safety. The benefits that American society gains from the news media coverage of military operations outweigh the drawbacks, and therefore press coverage should be permitted. The commander then has many decisions to make concerning what rules, if any, should govern the conduct and operations of the press in the war zone. Some of the issues facing the commander include uncontrolled access, press pools, censorship, and television. There is no set solution appropriate for every situation, since every war is unique. But improvements in military planning, officer training, and press indoctrination will help solve some of the current problems in the military/media relationship.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236278
Entities
People
- Michael P. Erdle
Organizations
- Naval War College