Crisis Management, The Crisis Management, The Media and International CrisesMedia and International Crises

Lecture 2Lecture 2

The Media and International CrisesThe Media and International Crises

Prof. Philip M. TaylorProf. Philip M. Taylor

AgendaAgenda

The media as observer, participant or The media as observer, participant or catalyst?catalyst?

The operational constraints on the media in The operational constraints on the media in the reporting of war and crisesthe reporting of war and crises

‘‘Real war’ and ‘Media War’Real war’ and ‘Media War’ ‘‘Our wars’ and ‘Other Peoples’ Wars’Our wars’ and ‘Other Peoples’ Wars’ The problems of Crisis ManagementThe problems of Crisis Management

What is news?What is news?

EW

S

NN

NEWS

It is a process of selectionIt is a process of selection

Therefore can ‘objectivity’ ever be Therefore can ‘objectivity’ ever be achieved?achieved?

PeoplePeople decide what to include/omit decide what to include/omit Their choice determined by their Their choice determined by their

individual profiles, training, ‘instinct’ individual profiles, training, ‘instinct’ operating within a commercial (or public operating within a commercial (or public service) contextservice) context

Presentations vary: print, radio and TVPresentations vary: print, radio and TV

Is War Different?

Observer, Participant or Catalyst?Observer, Participant or Catalyst?

““Voyeurs of strangers’ miseries”Voyeurs of strangers’ miseries” Parachute journalismParachute journalism The Heisenberg Principle – The Heisenberg Principle –

observation changes movementobservation changes movement ““The tyranny of real-time” (Nik The tyranny of real-time” (Nik

Gowing)Gowing) The “CNN Effect”The “CNN Effect” What can be shown? What What can be shown? What

should be shown?should be shown?

Role of the International Role of the International MediaMedia

Increasingly competitive, deregulated Increasingly competitive, deregulated ‘infotainment’ market‘infotainment’ market

Human Interest stories and the decline of Human Interest stories and the decline of the specialist/rise of the freelancerthe specialist/rise of the freelancer

Easier to ‘manipulate’ within certain Easier to ‘manipulate’ within certain ground rules (Gulf War 1, Kosovo, ground rules (Gulf War 1, Kosovo, Embeds in GW2)Embeds in GW2)

More difficult to control access to More difficult to control access to communications technologiescommunications technologies

What can be reported?What can be reported?

Operational constraints of journalism in Operational constraints of journalism in the fieldthe field

Matters of ‘taste and decency’Matters of ‘taste and decency’ Matters of ‘operational security’Matters of ‘operational security’ Questions of access vs. safetyQuestions of access vs. safety Communications and technologyCommunications and technology A A mediamediated eventted event

What should be reported?What should be reported?

Events vs.contextEvents vs.context ‘‘The whole truth?’The whole truth?’ Reporting from the ‘enemy’ side?Reporting from the ‘enemy’ side? Patriot or Propagandist?Patriot or Propagandist? Bad NewsBad News Disasters and their consequence (from Disasters and their consequence (from

the Crimea to Vietnam)the Crimea to Vietnam)

TV - Why some things and not TV - Why some things and not others?others?

‘‘Taste and decency’Taste and decency’ Tension between reporters and editorsTension between reporters and editors Government pressureGovernment pressure The public service tradition vs. competitionThe public service tradition vs. competition ‘‘Armchair generals’ and speculationArmchair generals’ and speculation The “tyranny” of 24/7 rolling newsThe “tyranny” of 24/7 rolling news

Real War and Media WarReal War and Media War

Do we expect too much of war Do we expect too much of war reporters?reporters?

Mediation or desensitisation?Mediation or desensitisation? Public support for military rather than Public support for military rather than

media (‘tell us the truth, but it’s OK to tell media (‘tell us the truth, but it’s OK to tell it when it’s all over’)it when it’s all over’)

How wide is the gap between image and How wide is the gap between image and reality?reality?

Our wars and Other Peoples’ Our wars and Other Peoples’ WarsWars

The historical record and the reporting The historical record and the reporting of our warsof our wars

OPWs – why some and not others?OPWs – why some and not others? Differences for reporters (seen as Differences for reporters (seen as

‘spies’): safety vs. access denial‘spies’): safety vs. access denial ‘‘The journalism of attachment’The journalism of attachment’ When OPWs become Our Wars…..When OPWs become Our Wars…..

Journalism of attachment?Journalism of attachment?

In Our Wars, isn’t this propaganda?In Our Wars, isn’t this propaganda? How does this work? (Gulf War)How does this work? (Gulf War) In OPWs, isn’t this propaganda?In OPWs, isn’t this propaganda? When OPWs become Our Wars When OPWs become Our Wars

(Kosovo)(Kosovo) ‘‘News is the shocktroops of News is the shocktroops of

propaganda’ (Reith)propaganda’ (Reith) So what’s the difference between war So what’s the difference between war

and peace?and peace?

Wartime reportingWartime reporting

Access – to the story AND to Access – to the story AND to communications – is pivotal (Falklands communications – is pivotal (Falklands 1982, Grenada 1983)1982, Grenada 1983)

Controlling access has become an Controlling access has become an obsession since Vietnam. Why?obsession since Vietnam. Why?

Is this possible anymore with Is this possible anymore with

NCT’s?NCT’s? Was it necessary anyway? Was it necessary anyway?

‘‘Peacetime’ reportingPeacetime’ reporting

Media less interested in defence and Media less interested in defence and military matters since end of Cold Warmilitary matters since end of Cold War

When war breaks out, the When war breaks out, the issuesissues which which caused it are subordinated to the caused it are subordinated to the eventevent

Diplomacy difficult to report on, Diplomacy difficult to report on, especially on TVespecially on TV

Who is interested in foreign policy Who is interested in foreign policy anyway?anyway?