Press & War
The press plays a huge part in our lives regarding the way information and news are spread. Social Media, along with the evolution of technology, also plays a large role in our society and how information and news are spread. Most recently, we can turn to the situation between Russia and Ukraine which is horrific.
Vietnam War
Vietnam is a prime example of the United States conducting large-scale news coverage regarding a war. It was only after a substantial amount of combat troops in the United States had been committed to said war back in 1965. Before this large-scale event, the number of American newspersons was small in Vietnam, but by 1968, there were over 500 professional journalists in Vietnam. Due to the advancements in technology, they were able to report for radio, different networks, wire services, and papers/magazines. The United States made sure that transportation for newspeople was always readily available so that they could be out there in the field quickly to report anything first-hand. The Vietnam War is often referred to as, "the first television war" because the film was readily available for people to watch the battle within their own homes. The media's role in the war was seen as controversial because many felt as if the media was a big reason for defeat. Many felt that the focus on negative reporting helped in undermining support for the United States while also showing uncensored coverage providing valuable information to Vietnam. Whether positive or negative, the media created tension and a sense of danger.
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