Date of Award

2005

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA Corporate and Professional Communication

Department

Communication and the Arts

Advisor

Patricia Kuchon

Keywords

Reporting, Reporters, Objectivity, Military troops, Embedded reporters

Abstract

This thesis examines the program of embedding journalists into military units during the Second Gulf War to determine if journalists can provide an objective view of the war to the public back home. To fully understand the scope of embedding, this work first reviews the relationship between the media and the military by tracing the evolution of the American war correspondent starting with the U.S. Civil War through to the Second Gulf War. As public opinion is often formed, at least in part, by news reports, whether print or broadcast, this thesis surveyed the public to see if they felt the news presented to them from embedded reporters was objective, and if it impacted their opinion. In addition to a survey of the general public, journalists, including two who were embedded, respond to questions about the media and embedded reports. While the journalists interviewed felt that embedded reporters could remain objective, the embeds only saw a small piece of the overall war, so it is important for editors to present additional views and pieces. Additionally. it is necessary for the public to turn to a variety of news sources to see the entire picture of a major, multi-faceted news story, like a war.

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