Freedom of Reporting and Security Issues

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Determining an equal state of propaganda and governmental control of information has always remained a challenge for democracies. It seems that in this day an era the United States leans towards a more propaganda approach rather than remaining equal. War portrayal by the media plays a monumental role in how a community reacts to the situation; this was shown during the Vietnam War as support deteriorated due to the gruesome images that were displayed. The relationship between media and terrorism is a vicious cycle; “As media cover terrorism, they incite more terrorism, which produces more media coverage” (Biernatzki, 2002).
As of today I do believe that there are policy implications of permitting journalists to have the same degree of access to information in the war on terrorism as occurred during the Vietnam War? Since our invasion of the Middle East in 2003 journalists have been given a monumental amount of access to information, arguably more than journalists during the Vietnam War. The difference between the two however is the production of gathered information. During the Vietnam War, “violent and disturbing images were broadcast into American homes on a daily basis” (“Freedom of Reporting and Security Issues”, n.d); this does not occur to such an extent today. Today we are highly advised not to display gruesome images on television for numerous reasons, all involving censorship. The display of gruesome images is ill-advised since you can’t always contain the audience that is watching, as well as the unknowing of how an individual will react; would you want to see a relative beheaded on national television? Some believe that the censorship of such information is against their 1st amendment. Journalists have access to alm...

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Freedom of Reporting and Security Issues. (n.d.). Methods of Terrorism Through the Ages. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from https://canton.sln.suny.edu/AngelUploads/Content/201402-CAN-JUST-375-0W1/_assoc/C9BB8538FC3940F2AED148CF4BC6C0C0/Freedom_of_Reporting_and_Security_Issues.pdf
Simon, J. (2011, September 9). How 'war on terror' unleashed a war on journalists. CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/09/08/simon.press.freedom.911/
Terrorism and the Media . (2008, July 23). Transnational Terrorism, Security & the Rule of Law. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from https://canton.sln.suny.edu/AngelUploads/Content/201402-CAN-JUST-375-0W1/_assoc/2DFCEDA2E5D74D41AF54078C9174402C/Terrorism_and_the_Mass_Media.pdf

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