Comparison of the Media Coverage of the Vietnam War to the Media Coverage of the Invasions of Grenada and Panama: A Question of Legacies
Abstract
This thesis examines the contention that the media coverage of the Vietnam War affected the way reporters covered the invasions of Grenada and Panama. A content analysis was made of three major newsmagazines--Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report--comparing media coverage during the years 1965, 1967, 1969, 1983, and 1989/90. The study seemed to indicate that a majority of the media coverage from all three conflicts included unfavorable rhetoric directed at the wartime actions of both the government and the military. Similarly, only a few of the articles analyzed contained any form of favorable rhetorical bias. The amount of judgmental bias contained in the coverage of the Vietnam War, the Grenada invasion, and the Panama invasion also remained relatively constant from conflict to conflict. More importantly, the judgmental bias was neutral. Although media coverage of politico-military action during war is similar from conflict to conflict, the character of media coverage during Grenada and Panama cannot be attributed to the military/media relationship of the Vietnam War.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA245458
Entities
People
- Mark H. Samisch
Organizations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore