The policy we discussed last week has changed.
What are the implications? What, if anything, will this do to public opinion?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Update: Covering Coffins
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We spend time learning WHAT media workers do, but it's just as important to think about HOW they do it and WHY they do it. Let's get some ideas percolating about what we see and how it affects us. I call it "Sunrise on Media" because I often arrive at work obscenely early and will update this blog then.
The policy we discussed last week has changed.
What are the implications? What, if anything, will this do to public opinion?
Posted by
Katy Culver
at
7:15 AM
Labels: access, ethics roundup, iraq
5 comments:
I personally am VERY glad they reversed this. Americans tend to glorify war, a lot! We are a visually stimulated society. We understand the impact of 50 deaths more when we see 50 coffins instead of hearing it from someone on the radio or on tv.
I hope seeing the impact we have not only on other countries, but individuals within our own country, will help others understand the costs of war.
I am also glad they reversed this. Yes, it may spark debates and controversy but if the families allow pictures to be taken, who are we to not allow it? It could be that they don't want the death of their loved one to be in vain and they want people to see the real tragedies of this war.
I like this idea ONLY because the families have the final say.
Through Journalism 560 (history of) I learned that the Vietnam war was, at first, supported. It seems like photojournalism and exposure to the real tragedies of the war, sparked controversy and protest.
Since the Iraq war had a low fatality rate at first, people may still have that idea in their head. If pictures of dead soldiers are splashed all over the news, it may renew the opposition spark that so many people had before the war.
I was very pleased to read the soldiers' families would have the final say on press coverage. The sensitivity of the situation is something I feel that should be dealt with on a case-to-case basis by each family.
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