Debate
Topic:
Nationalism vs. Skepticism: Our Nation’s Press Under the Microscope
Did/Is our nation’s press maintain neutrality about Iraq, or did it support
President Bush’s position and assuming the need to attack Iraq?
As our nation engaged in war, so did our nation’s newsrooms. A phenomenon has
been occurring, however, that has some press analysts concerned. It seems the
objectivity and neutrality that American journalists should apply to newsworthy
stories is rapidly being replaced by a near “support” of the war effort. As Jim
Moscou of Editor & Publisher states, “Reporters and editors have become so
engrossed with the idea of covering an Iraq conflict, it’s undermining
skepticism and luring them into professional links with a government that knows
how to engage the press better than the press does [the] government.”
(“Newsrooms Bewitched by Iraq War,” January 30, 2003.)
Indeed, major news outlets across the nation seem aligned with the Bush
Administration’s need to disarm Iraq, even though no weapons have been
uncovered. What’s happened to the neutrality? Has getting a good story
compromised journalism’s civic responsibility to ask tough questions?
Instructions:
Pick a side to debate: Argue either that the American press has been swept up by
a spirit of nationalism and “war correspondent” excitement that it has stopped
asking the government important questions. Or argue that the press has exercised
skepticism and demanded evidence of the U.S. government's case for war on behalf
of the public’s best interests. Cite examples (quotes, surveys, opinion polls,
etc.) to support your arguments.
Media in Support of the War:
Editor & Publisher Article – “Newsrooms Bewitched by Iraq War”
http://editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1805898
Editor & Publisher Article – “Newspaper Editorials Conflicted Over War”
http://editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1804199
Media in Opposition of the War:
Survey – “Bush/Blix Don’t Change Newspapers’ Positions”
http://editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1807172
Other Pertinent Links:
Defense Department/News Briefing
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2003/t01292003_t0129sd.html