The Mass Media and National Security

The Mass Media and National Security

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Christopher Carey COMM. 115

I chose this topic specifically because… Of the state of war our country is in right now.  I felt it would be interesting to see how the media affects national security.  I researched using many techniques: 

Library  Online Databases  Various Books 

Here is what I found… 

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During wartime and other national security issues, free speech within the media can become dangerous. Before researching, I felt the media should be allowed to write, publish, broadcast most of what it came across. After researching, I feel the media should know its limits during such sensitive times.

The First Amendment

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The only profession by law singled out by the constitution. Can reporting on certain issues take this right to far? During wartime this can become very dangerous.

Censoring the Media 

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From the Pentagon to the military, everyone has a way of censoring issues. Helping the Enemy   

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War Plans False Accusations Rescue Missions

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The Pentagon Papers  

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June 13, 1971 7,000 page top-secret Department of Defense history. Involvement and strategy in the Vietnam War. The Governments argument. http://www.bayarea.net/~kins/AboutMe/Cranbrook/GIFs/PentagonPapers_bookcover.jpg

Publicizing Terrorism   http://med.stanford.edu/research/spotlight/images/anthrax_big.jpg

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The 2001 anthrax attack on America Publicity Syndicated Columnist Thomas Sowell’s thoughts. People begin to fear the worst

Ethics and the Truth!!!

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The Radio-Television News Directors Association on the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct “Professional electronic journalists should pursue truth aggressively and present the news accurately, in context, and as completely as possible….” Unreliable sources

Geraldo Rivera  

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Kicked out of Iraq Reporters traveling with coalition forces in Iraq are to refrain from disclosing sensitive information. Rivera had ‘compromised operational security’ http://content.clearchannel.com/Photos/male_celebrities/geraldo_rivera_Gi.jpg

In Conclusion…   

The freedom of speech and press is exercised tremendously throughout the media. Many reporters do not care how harmful a story may be as long as they get to report on it. Sensitive issues in times of national security should be looked at closely and ethically by the journalist in order to determine whether or not it is suitable or dangerous for the American public to hear.

Written Researched Produced & Directed By

My Website

Christopher Carey Works Cited Berger, Melvin. Censorship. New York: Franklin Watts, 1982 

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Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. RTNDA2000 International Conferance, 14 Sept. 2000, Radio-Television News Directors Association.

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Grazia, Edward D. "Papering the Pentagon." Nation os 264 (1997): 28-32. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Kings College, Wilkes-Barre. 25 Oct. 2006. 

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Johnson, Steve. “Peter Arnett, Geraldo Rivera casualties of real-time war coverage.”  Chicago Tribune Mon, March 31, 2003. Plante, Chris. "Military Kicks Geraldo Out of Iraq." CNN. 31 Mar. 2003. 4 May 2006  .

Sowell, Thomas. “The Media Should Use Better Judgment During Wartime.” Should There Be Limits to Free Speech? Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2003. 16-17