World War II saw the beginning of radio broadcasting of wars. Walter Cronkite, stationed in London, reported from the city as it was hit by German bombers. He reported on the everyday life and suffering of the Londoners in his characteristic mixture of in-formativeness and gripping imagery. The reporter risked his life in standing on the roof of his hotel for better oversight of the nightly air raids and also for transmission reasons. Later in the war, Cronkite also accompanied British planes as they flew air raids against German cities, especially Berlin.
What makes Cronkite’s reports so special is their gripping style and their deep humanism. Cronkite could narrate with an intensity that made it possible for the average American who had never left his country to actually feel the atmosphere of dread in London. This is a strength in a reporter, because it allows for an emotional involvement of the audience, beyond their intellectual understanding. Before the advent of the television, this was even more important. This does not mean, however, that today such a quality would be less important - the images transported by the camera need to be selected and put into context too. In that way Cronkite is still a role model for current journalism. The other stark point of this reporter was his deep respect for every human, every individual, nearly independent of his or her nationality. For me, it was amazing to hear Cronkite report with the same eye for suffering on London and Berlin, although he only saw the latter from above. However, he imagined the suffering there must be in the city, being one sea of flames after the raid. In my eyes, there is no higher praise for a reporter than to say he gave his audience a sense of humanity, a sense of the universality of the human struggle and suffering - such reporting goes far beyond what we can expect to see today, both in U.S. and German television.
Table of Contents
Historic Evolution of War Coverage
Criteria and Challenges for War Journalism
Coverage in the Build-Up to the Iraq War
Coverage during the Iraq War
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines the critical role of journalism during times of war, analyzing how the relationship between the press and the government has evolved from the mid-20th century to the Iraq War. It investigates the failures of the American media to critically challenge official narratives, ultimately questioning the responsibility of the press in upholding democratic accountability and preventing unnecessary human suffering.
- The historical development of war reporting, exemplified by figures like Walter Cronkite.
- The tension between journalistic neutrality and nationalistic "boosterism."
- The impact of government propaganda, censorship, and military embedding on news coverage.
- The failure of the press to provide independent verification regarding the Iraq War buildup.
- The ethical imperative for journalists to document the human cost of conflict.
Excerpt from the Book
Historic Evolution of War Coverage
World War II saw the beginning of radio broadcasting of wars. Walter Cronkite, stationed in London, reported from the city as it was hit by German bombers. He reported on the everyday life and suffering of the Londoners in his characteristic mixture of informativeness and gripping imagery. The reporter risked his life in standing on the roof of his hotel for better oversight of the nightly air raids and also for transmission reasons. Later in the war, Cronkite also accompanied British planes as they flew air raids against German cities, especially Berlin.
What makes Cronkite’s reports so special is their gripping style and their deep humanism. Cronkite could narrate with an intensity that made it possible for the average American who had never left his country to actually feel the atmosphere of dread in London. This is a strength in a reporter, because it allows for an emotional involvement of the audience, beyond their intellectual understanding. Before the advent of the television, this was even more important. This does not mean, however, that today such a quality would be less important – the images transported by the camera need to be selected and put into context too. In that way Cronkite is still a role model for current journalism. The other stark point of this reporter was his deep respect for every human, every individual, nearly independent of his or her nationality. For me, it was amazing to hear Cronkite report with the same eye for suffering on London and Berlin, although he only saw the latter from above. However, he imagined the suffering there must be in the city, being one sea of flames after the raid. In my eyes, there is no higher praise for a reporter than to say he gave his audience a sense of humanity, a sense of the universality of the human struggle and suffering – such reporting goes far beyond what we can expect to see today, both in U.S. and German television.
Summary of Chapters
Historic Evolution of War Coverage: This chapter reviews the professional standards of early war reporting, using Walter Cronkite’s coverage of WWII and Vietnam as a benchmark for humanistic, investigative journalism.
Criteria and Challenges for War Journalism: This section analyzes the systemic pressures on journalists, including self-censorship, government opposition, and the ethical dilemma of reporting on the horrific realities of war versus maintaining a "patriotic" perspective.
Coverage in the Build-Up to the Iraq War: This chapter critiques the media's failure to challenge government claims regarding WMDs and Iraq’s involvement in 9/11, highlighting a lack of critical expert sourcing.
Coverage during the Iraq War: This section discusses how the military "embedding" system limited the scope of reporting, preventing a comprehensive view of the conflict and the resulting post-war instability.
Keywords
War Journalism, Walter Cronkite, Media Ethics, Iraq War, Propaganda, Government Censorship, Embedded Reporting, Public Opinion, Watchdog Journalism, Foreign Policy, Humanism, Vietnam War, Investigative Reporting, Democratic System, State Building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper explores the evolution and ethical challenges of war journalism, specifically focusing on how the American media's relationship with the government has shaped the reporting of military conflicts.
What are the central themes explored?
Key themes include the balance between patriotism and critical inquiry, the influence of state propaganda, the risks of self-censorship, and the media's responsibility to report the human reality of war.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to evaluate whether modern journalism fulfills its role as a "fourth power" in a democracy, particularly in its duty to challenge government narratives during wartime.
What methodology does the author use?
The author uses a qualitative, comparative analysis of historical and contemporary war reporting, drawing on academic literature and case studies from World War II, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War.
What does the main body of the work address?
It covers the historical trajectory of news broadcasting, the structural and political pressures on war reporters, and specific failures in coverage regarding the lead-up to and execution of the Iraq War.
Which keywords define the work?
Primary keywords include war journalism, propaganda, embedded reporting, media ethics, investigative journalism, and democratic accountability.
How does the author characterize Walter Cronkite’s influence?
Cronkite is presented as an ideal model of reporting, noted for his deep humanism and his ability to convey the emotional reality of war, which the author argues is largely absent in modern television news.
What is the author's argument regarding the "embedded" journalism system in the Iraq War?
The author argues that embedding served as a form of censorship that restricted journalists to the military's perspective, thereby preventing them from reporting on the broader humanitarian and structural failures of the occupation.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2006, Journalism in Times of War, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/66801
