Profiles: Media Roles as a National Citizen

Jessica Lynch, Prop in Government Media Campaign

By Nathan Underwood

Why would the U.S. government publicize the capture and recovery of a member of the armed forces? This is the question we should ask ourselves about Jessica Lynch. In the book, The War in Iraq and Why the Media Failed Us, author David Dage shows how the U.S. government exaggerated and dramatized the capture and recovery of Private Lynch. According to the government’s account, a brave 19-year-old Lynch fought furiously until her resources were exhausted. Only then was she captured, tortured and kept in agony in an Iraqi hospital until U.S. Special Forces staged a dramatic rescue. The real story, ultimately told by Lynch herself, turned out to be much less heroic and very different; she even praised the kindness of the Iraqi doctors. The U.S. government used the capture of Lynch as an opportunity to promote their own agenda – and the media took the bait. The media allowed a young girl to be a prop in a campaign to excite American citizens, to rally support and to remind us what kind of enemy we were fighting. What made Jessica’s story different than others who had been captured? The U.S. government knew, with media help, that Jessica’s story could have a happy ending.

 

America’s Conservative Cheerleader: Fox News

By Chris Rossman

Conservative America has found its voice, the Fox News Channel. The network, designed much like traditional American news media networks, focuses on current events and national issues. Programs such as “The O’Reilly Factor” and “Hannity’s America” discuss current national issues from a conservative perspective. The network is revered by many politically conservative Americans for its defense of national critiques and support of the Bush Administration.

The Fox News Channel was a leader in covering the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003. The network had round-the-clock coverage of the invasion and backed the Bush Administration decision to do so. The channel served as the media ‘cheerleader’ during a time of national uncertainty. The news personalities on the network have been consistent in the backing of the Bush Administration’s decisions since they took office in 2001.

Fox News is owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is a subsidiary of the News Corporation, an international media conglomerate operated by Rupert Murdoch. The network was launched in October 1996. The network slowly rose to prominence in the late-1990’s and gained further attention during the presidential elections of 2000. The network continues to serve politically conservative viewers in the high numbers across America.

 

America Comes to the Rescue

By Renee Smilanich

One of the roles the media plays is to promote “ America as a hero” in the world. In news accounts, the U.S. is consistently portrayed as a generous and selfless nation. Consider the recent New York Times article, U.S. Forgives Costa Rican Debt to Help Environment. Briefly said, the U.S. will forgive $26 million of Costa Rica’s debt in exchange for that government to take steps in conserving high-risk natural areas.

The journalist uses several positive words on behalf of the U.S. such as, forgive, help and protect, to emphasize the selfless act of helping a country in distress. He also uses phrases as, “success stories,“ and “a model for government and citizen cooperation.” There is the impression that the U.S. is taking the initiative, successfully, in helping the environment and building positive relationships.

While this debt-for-nature agreement may be an excellent program, its presentation is biased in that it only contains quotes from American officials and none from Costa Rican sources. In this manner, we are seeing how the media portrayed the United States as “the hero who rescued this country from further damage,” whereas Costa Rica is characterized as “the defenseless nation needing American aid.”