Why do news reporters insist on hyping up the war propaganda?

2015-02-08T12:51:16-05:00

Williams had claimed that an army helicopter he was flying in was shot down. After being called out by members of the military who were at the scene, Williams recanted his story. Following that admission, NBC revealed that it is investigating some of his reports for misinformation including his reporting following Hurricane Katrina where he claimed he saw bodies float down the street of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 8 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-02-08T12:59:27-05:00

I don't think they are hyping up war propaganda... they are just hyping up their own stories. It's not just reporters who do this... we have all known people who overplayed their down range experience. When a reporter does this, they lose trust with the public.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Feb 8 at 2015 1:08 PM

2015-02-08T13:08:08-05:00

How is the situation around Brian Williams propaganda?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2015 1:13 PM

2015-02-08T13:13:02-05:00

It is all about the "DRAMA" and / or "SHOCK and AWE" factor of today's reporting PO1 Michael Johnson, they always make more of situations and try to trick the less educated.

It is really sad that people utilize such tactics as Williams has done. This is the reason there needs to be an investigation into all his reporting.

Riding on the Laurels of others in inexcusable!
If it comes to light that he has lied about multiple stories then more needs to be done.
Who knows what his ulterior motive is / was.

Response by PO1 Michael Johnson made Feb 8 at 2015 1:24 PM

2015-02-08T13:24:49-05:00

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/02/u-s-reporters-always-pro-war.html

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Feb 8 at 2015 3:24 PM

2015-02-08T15:24:19-05:00

A few thoughts:
- The dictionary defines propaganda as "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view".
- Joint Publication 3-61 Public Affairs 25 AUG 10 states that "It is the responsibility of DOD to make available timely and accurate information so that the public, Congress, and the news media may assess and understand facts about national security and defense strategy."
- In the case of Brian Williams and NBC, this is a case of personal propaganda where Williams was trying to promote his own cause and not a case of war propaganda where Williams was trying to building up support for the war in Iraq.
- If news reporters do hype "war propaganda" then I would argue it is more of a case where they are hyping a story, not a war. Standard rule for news is that sex and violence sells. They do not sell air time, newspapers, or magazine by writing about how "all is well in the world".
- I find it interesting that many news reporters seem to be more supportive of a war and how it is conducted when a Democrat is the President. I do not have data to support this assertion and it could be my own bias coming through. The same reporters who supported Clinton in Serbia in 1996 were the same ones who were against Bush in Iraq in 2003 although every argument that Clinton used against Milosovich applied to Saddam Hussein.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jun 7 at 2015 11:59 PM

2015-06-07T23:59:55-04:00

-- because hype gets more people to watch and that sells air time for commercials...