This is just an FYI for now. This New York Times has an ongoing blog post discussing the implications of embedded reporters during the Iraq (and I suspect Afghanistan) War. The question is, can reporters be independent from the military when they are relying on the military for their ability to move about during war?
Keep in mind that the process of embedding troops with military units is a recent development. In previous wars reporters often travelled relatively freely and covered events of their choosing.
Remember, Act Independently is one of the four main principles of the SPJ Code of Ethics.
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Perhaps the military doesn't want reporters to be able to choose the events that are published.
ReplyDeleteIf you're the newsmaker, rather than the news gatherer, your goal is to get the reporter to report the story you want them to report. If you just allow reporters to go fishing around who knows what they'll uncover? So you point them in the direction you want them to go, and hope they don't stray. That's also known as doing P.R.
ReplyDeleteThis question is very debatable. They can report on something they see, but if the military tells them to not put something, there no so much independent. In order for the military to protect them they have to follow the military orders.
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