« Magic Dust | Main | Cox and Forkum: A daily must read »

June 14, 2006

LA Times editorial about media bias in military coverage

Author Frank Schaeffer has an opinion piece in the LA Times about why, in general, military members don't like the main stream media and uses the Haditha indicent to illustrate his point. He asks why the awarding of a Navy Cross doesn't merit the kind of coverage as the self-congratulating Oscars.

However, if the "chattering classes" ever wonder why those of us in the military family sometimes bitterly resent the media, they need look no further than the "Haditha story." What bothers me is that I haven't seen one recent story dedicated to the heroism of our troops given such consistent prominence in The Times or other leading papers. Nor have I read a front-page headline about a military medal ceremony and the story behind it, although every year I see front-page treatment in The Times of who wins the Oscars.

Apparently some awards are more equal than others — say, for being a supporting actress in a forgettable movie rather than risking one's life to save a group of Iraqi children.

If there is such a thing as "anti-military media bias," it is not in how stories are reported. It is in what stories are ignored and the editorial "values" implicit in those daily choices.

Emphasis mine. I don't quite agree with that last sentence because if it turns out that Haditha was a fabrication of the type that was Jenin in the West Bank, it clearly would show a bias of "how" and not just "what". Mudville Gazette is the clearninghouse for information about Haditha, and there is just too much to try and reprint here.

I have no problem with reporting on the military's occasional failures. But it's unfair and out of context when, at the same time, editors at our best papers ignore much more routine acts of individual heroism that balance this grim picture. The Times should help us be as proud of our heroes as we are disappointed by those very few who dishonor us.

Well, they used to be our best papers, but I do give the Times credit for priting this op-ed. Many others, and I can think of one in particular which shares its moniker, would have left it out entirely.

It is also worth mentioning that even if these Marines do turn out to be guilty, they would still represent a miniscule fraction of our armed forces, and that they will be punnished. Contrast that with our enemies, who go out of their way to maximize civilian casualties as standard operating procedure.

Posted by TJ at June 14, 2006 01:39 PM

Comments

Posted by: yankeemom at June 15, 2006 08:50 AM

Post a comment