Week 2 Truth and Fact is NOT the same thing.

I remember on multiple occasions watching the news on television while I was in Iraq. There was coverage of terrible events but, also there were successful accomplishments. I witnessed some pretty amazing things; places, events and people, the people were the most remarkable. I had no desire to be there however, I had a duty to perform and I was actually rather lucky, my mission was one of peace. As such I was able to follow the progress of Desert Storm from an on the ground “in the middle of it” witness/ observer. I say this because, I discovered something that I would in many ways wish I had not or could at least forget. Strangely, it wasn’t the tragic events of war that hit me the hardest nor were they the heaviest burden with which I returned home. I saw news broadcasts of various networks in which they all participated in what I’m about to tell you to one degree or another. I shall not name any one network specifically. I was either a direct witness to events or was part of an evolution and thus aware of at least a significant portion of events that were covered by the news media. When I was not actually present at some events I was privy to detailed information from those that were a party to or witnesses of specific events. With dumbstruck awe, I would watch the news and the unfolding of “the story” and more often than not “the story” resembled very little what actually happened. I remember saying to myself and I suppose anyone in earshot as I thought out loud, “that’s BS! I was there and that’s not what happened!” Over and over again what was a good thing on the ground a point “zero” somehow got twisted into something not-so-good, escalating up to tragic. Things that were terrible and tragic would somehow be represented as good to awe –inspiring… it was just incredible. It was a source of much dismay and inspired great frustration and arguments amongst the troops of which I was present. I would like to believe that it was just mistakes of point-of-view but, it happened so much and to such degree that I cannot help but feel it was intentional. To me, the media was designing the news to achieve a desired (theirs) response, to the events. I have been profoundly changed by this. I know there are those that suspect or feel as though the news/networks is/are or may be slanted at least slightly one way or the other to influence the way we as a people see or think of things. But, to be a part of the events that the media covers and broadcasts and then hear/ see it represented in a way that hardly resembles what actually happened?! How could I not be affected? How do you trust again after that? Who do you trust again after that?! I feel lied to, cheated but, I now have a better understanding that nothing should be taken for granted. Be cautious of what you take at face value. Former President Regan said it best, “trust but verify.”

The particular theoretical lens of choice here, at least for me is the conflict perspective. The news was at least once thought of as factual. As in "That's the way it is..." as quoted by Walter Cronkite, a man who was known for extreme integrity. A man who in his last days on the air after nearly a score of years as a Chief News Anchor, worried deeply about the media form that he propelled to such great heights, had or would soon overstep its boundaries.

There can be no doubt of socialization by the TV news. on the Micro and Macro levels. Though there are still many well respected News Papers and Magazines still in print today, the vast majority of the world gains its news information from the TV and now gaining popularity fast, the ever-growing Internet. As any single source of information would, it becomes a significant part of our lives to such a degree we tend to lose the ability to question the truth of it. We have simply come to believe it "must be true, it was on TV". The TV media (potentially) could create or recreate the viewer’s social interaction/groups in the image of their choice. Because, well... "They can't lie to us, right?! That would be illegal, right?!" As we all begin to more or less, think and act alike... one would think things would get better... not so much as different Stations have different views/agendas/budgets etc. unscrupulous Networks could easily twist unsuspecting viewers around the proverbial axle. Certainly, this is a dangerous possibility without a lens of good judgment and understanding that they may not have all the facts. 



http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,98519,00.html The Media Slant by Jeff Edwards

http://bralls.newsvine.com/_news/2006/10/26/414867-does-the-media-slant-liberal-or-conservative Does the media slant Liberal or Conservative? By BrianR

http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3612 And That's the Way It Is by Dan Rottenberg