From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
MaryCampbell 12:14, 5 Sep 2004 (EST)
== Reporting in a Warzone ==
Electronic Journalism
- New media technologies have ultimatly have redefined war journalism. News gathering techniques have been dramatically enhanced by the introduction of portable satellite equiptment, mobile broadcasting stations and videophones. These technologies have become easily accessible to news networks and have formed the basis of modern wartime journalism – ensuring that live coverage of international conflicts is now the common standard of wartime reporting (Young, 1992: 45).
- There are many advantages to such technology, the most important being that journalists can now broadcast live from any destination in the world, no matter how remote (Tapsall, 2001: 14). Such technologies increase mobility for field reporters and allow for regular updates on conflict developments, contrasting dramatically with the wartime media coverage of the early twentyfirst century.
- Satellite technology revolutionised wartime coverage, as mobile satellite dishs provided instant access to breaking news. More recently, the videophone has superceeded the satellite in importance, seen as the more practical and mobile alternative (Shanor, 2003: 202). For example, in 2001 CNN used a satellite video phone to send the first video footage of a destructive earthquake in northwest India. Rival news organisations satellite equipment took more than six days to reach the remote area and begin transmitting (Shanor, 2003: 201).
- However, live coverage of conflicts increases the vulnerability of the reporting to innacuracies (Young, 1992: 45) and raises ethical concerns regarding news ratings and cencorship issues.
Radio – The original live wartime broadcaster
- During World War II radio bulletins lead the media coverage of the conflict. Radio correspondents were able to rival well established newspapers, having the advantage of prompt reporting on their side.
- Radio station CBS proved a leader in the merging of technology into journalism. The famous live broadcasts of Edward R. Murrow during German bombing raids on London were delivered to audiences instantly (Shanor, 2003: 83). His broadcasts on CBS were hours ahead of the reports from newspaper correspondents' and days ahead of available newsreels. In perhaps the most famous broadcast during the conflict, CBS switched live from country to country during the 1938 German march into Austria and switched between journalists, including Murrow and William L. Shirer (Shanor, 2003: 83).
- The radio broadcasting of World War II highlighted the importance of fast reporting during conflicts and established live broadcasting as a serious possibility in the future of wartime journalism.
CNN – the leader in modern wartime journalism
- In 1991 CNN provided the world with it’s first glimse of real time, televised coverage of war. CNN utilised the available satellite technology and when the Gulf War began, the network received noteriarity as a team of CNN journalists remained in Iraq to continue live coverage (Wiener, 2002: 2). Led by executive producer Robert Wiener, CNN’s coverage of the conflict earned the station international acclaim, and firmly established them as the leader in modern wartime journalism (Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta, 2003: ‘CNN’).
Related Wiki Entries
Go back to Digital Journalism
MaryCampbell 11:48, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)
Bibliography
- Seib, P. (2004). Beyond the Front Lines: How the news media cover a world shaped by war, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1403965471
- Shanor, D. (2003). News from Abroad, New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231122403
- Tapsall, S. and Varley, C. (2001). Journalism: Theory in Practice, Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195509978
- Wiener, R. (2002). Live from Baghdad, New York: St Martin’s Griffin. ISBN 0312314655
- Young, P. (1992), Defence and the Media in Time of Limited War, London: Frank Cass. ISBN 0714640859
- Microsoft Encyclopedia Encarta (2003), ‘CNN’: Microsoft Corporation.
MaryCampbell 11:55, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)
