Media Bias: In this paper, war heroes are MIA

[Woodmonkey]

Why don't military good guys make the front page?

By Frank Schaeffer, FRANK SCHAEFFER is the author of the forthcoming novel "Baby Jack" and coauthor with Kathy Roth-Douquet of "AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from the Military and How it Hurts...

DURING THE last two weeks, the Los Angeles Times has printed at least four front-page articles, and several others on inside pages, about a Marine squad accused of killing 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha and possibly falsifying reports about the incident. Some of the information reported by The Times was based on the military's own investigation. The Times' reports seemed fair, stressing the conditions of combat and confusion faced by our troops.

As the father of a Marine who served two combat tours in Afghanistan and participated in missions in Iraq, I'm glad the newspaper reports military failures. I want the military to be better too. I'm also grateful for the many poignant stories about our troops that Times' reporters such as Tony Perry and David Zucchino have written for the paper.

However, if the "chattering classes" ever wonder why those of us in the military family sometimes bitterly resent the media, they need look no further than the "Haditha story." What bothers me is that I haven't seen one recent story dedicated to the heroism of our troops given such consistent prominence in The Times or other leading papers. Nor have I read a front-page headline about a military medal ceremony and the story behind it, although every year I see front-page treatment in The Times of who wins the Oscars.

Apparently some awards are more equal than others — say, for being a supporting actress in a forgettable movie rather than risking one's life to save a group of Iraqi children.

If there is such a thing as "anti-military media bias," it is not in how stories are reported. It is in what stories are ignored and the editorial "values" implicit in those daily choices.

Who decided that dramatic acts of military heroism no longer merit front-page treatment? During World War II, the Korean War and even the early years of the Vietnam War, such stories got Page 1 attention. Where are today's front-page headlines that read "Marine Dies Saving His Squad" to balance "Marines Accused of Massacre"?

The prominence of stories about military malfeasance, absent stories about military heroism, creates an out-of-whack impression. When it comes to reporting on the military, it's as if we're back in the 1950s, only this time the media prejudice and insensitivity are aimed at military service rather than race. In the 1950s, you rarely saw a story about an African American unless he or she committed a crime or was portrayed with condescension as a victim.

What I would like to see is acts of military heroism regarded once again as newsworthy. Here is one story that would have merited a front-page headline if the editorial values of this paper were less dismissive of military valor.

Staff Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani is one of the recently distinguished heroes of the Marine Corps. On Feb. 24, he was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in Afghanistan in June 2004. Viggiani had been fighting Taliban remnants who were killing teachers and burning girls' schools. He led his men in combat after being wounded. He chased down and killed or captured the enemy. He humanely tended to the wounded enemy fighters he had been fighting moments before. He led his men to safety and honor. Was a Times reporter sent to cover the medal ceremony and to report on what lay behind it? If not, why not? Whose values dictate that winning a Navy Cross is less important than a Pulitzer, an Oscar or a PEN award?

I have no problem with reporting on the military's occasional failures. But it's unfair and out of context when, at the same time, editors at our best papers ignore much more routine acts of individual heroism that balance this grim picture. The Times should help us be as proud of our heroes as we are disappointed by those very few who dishonor us.

The Source

[Snowden]

There's so much truth here. All the "mainstream" media is about is unseating, debasing, hammering anything negative, against this administration. Maybe it's not the best ever, but how do we know if all we get is the twisted, spun versions of the news that we get from them?

All we want from the reporters is truth, and that seems to be the last thing we ever get any more. This isn't "Freedom of the Press" so much as freedom to fictionalize or spin anything that happens so that even the good news is delivered as bad.

The American people should get better - we should be told the news, and all of it. Our troops deserve to have their courage honored and their accomplishments told.

[Bluehawk]

This may seem to be a bit of a stretch... but I sincerely believe this type of thing comes from three primary sources:

1. People who have ZERO concept of military or warfare functions and systems.

2. People who think they are pacifists or who are, for the worse, cowardly.

3. Communists or Fascists.

[KBay84]

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

This may seem to be a bit of a stretch... but I sincerely believe this type of thing comes from three primary sources:

1. People who have ZERO concept of military or warfare functions and systems.

2. People who think they are pacifists or who are, for the worse, cowardly.

3. Communists or Fascists.

Amen, brother, to all the above. It kills me when I hear people, or a band like Greenday say that the media has caved in to Bush. Horsepuckey! I don't know what they want from the media, except maybe O'Reilly's head on a platter, ala Nick Burg.

[odannyboy]

Do you folks honestly think the media is biased against the President?

They either remain silent or mindlessly cheerlead this administration. Almost any MSM (mainstream media) criticism is guarded, carefully worded, and not nearly as scathing as the scrutiny this corrupt, inept President and his administration deserve.

Yet the conservative windbags that permeate the airwaves continue the myth there is a "liberal media", and it comes as no surprise to me so many believe it.

If you watch FOX, or take Hannity/Coulter/Limbaugh/etc. etc.... seriously, then it comes as no suprise you'd believe the media portrays things in a biased manner.

Yes, it is biased, but in favor of the President and his disastrous foreign and domestic policies.

[KBay84]

Dan, I cannot see how you can think the media is biased TOWARDS the administration?! I have had alot of time sitting in doctor's offices in the last year, reading Newsweek, Time magazine, and the various newspapers and e-news sites like CNN and so forth, not to mention all the linkis I get sent from my liberal sis-in-law from the NY papers.

I have yet to see any articles praising the President, his administration OR the fine job the troops have done in resurrecting Iraq, unless I watch Fox or read the Orange County Register. Two, thats TWO whole media sources, and the ones opposed far outnumber them.

So, yes, I can fairly and what's more, accurately say that the media are biased agains the war, the troops and the President.

P.S. Shall we include NBC, ABC and CBS to that list? I'm not "allowed" to watch those news channels anymore due to how badly one-sided their *reporting* is....my blood pressure is bad enough without viewing that stuff.