International Conflict and the Media

ACTIVITY 21: The Media's Performance

Introduction

When the war was over most Americans believed that the press and media had covered the GulfWar extensively. Most reporters and editors were very upset with the military's and government'sattempts to control the news about the war. These readings examine these problems.

Student Objectives

• To understand the need for censorship during wartime.
• To understand the limits of censorship.
• To evaluate the performance of the news gathering and reporting system during the Gulf War.

Time

1 class period

Materials

Copies of Readings 21A and B for each student; poster paper and markers or a chalkboard

Recommended Procedures

1. Distribute Reading 21A. After the students have read it, ask them to consider:

Why is the truth the first casualty of war?

Why did the military deceive the press?

Should the government always tell the truth?

What happens when the government is caught in telling a lie?

Why did most governments impose censorship during wartime?

2. Distribute Reading 21B. After the students have read it, ask them to consider:

Why were the press and editors upset with the coverage of the Gulf War?

Should the governments have restricted reporters more? Less?

Should these restrictions have lasted for longer periods of time?

3. On poster paper or on the chalkboard make a list of stories that were not adequately coveredduring the war. Ask the students to consider:

Why weren't these stories adequately covered during the war?

What might have been the results if these stories had been adequately handled during thewar?

Return to the Contents page for International Conflict and the Media.

Go to Activity 22.

Go to the Bibliography.