Video and Foreign Policy
Military Operations
Video has fueled a conflict between the military and the media. During the war in Vietnam, camera crews filmed dead and wounded American soldiers. This is similar to the affect of photography during the Crimean War. Journalists want to be on the front lines, but the military is careful to guard information that could effect their position in terms of the conflict as well as public support of the military action.
Video has contributed to the exclusion of reporters from the battle scene. The government became wary of the media and its effect on public support after Vietnam. Reporters reached the scene in Grenada two days after the invasion began because the government kept the invasion a secret from them. The 1989 invasion of Panama also excluded journalists because, according to Kevin Merida of the Dallas Morning News, officials "were not interested in showing journalists scenes that would detract from what they regarded as a military triumph" (Wallach). The press were let in, but not allowed close to the action. Besides turning public opinion against the role the government is pursuing in an international conflict, there are also concerns that the media may endanger U.S. troops or limit the military's options by publicizing troop movements.
Cooperation between the media and the government is improving. The government has the option to limit media coverage by not allowing reporters near the scene. However, reporters accompany U.S. troops on invasions and have agreed not to publicize information about troop movements until an agreed upon time.
The media has on occasion played a positive role in a crisis. In the Achille Lauro case, helicopters belonging to television networks could have interfered "with retaliatory action", but the network helicopter actually helped the Pentagon in locating the ship when the Pentagon lost it on their radar screen (Wallach).
Another issue concerning video technology and the U.S. military is television broadcasting on military bases. Bases in 20 countries receive programs from the Department of Defense's Armed Forces Radio and TV Services. A "shadow audience," which includes millions of people in those countries, can then watch the programs intended for American military personnel (Green).
