[durango]

I'm sick and tired of the one sided coverage going on regarding the war in Iraq and I felt obligated to start writing to the news media to vent (if nothing more). I don't know if they really care about ethics but they do worry about public opinion, but so I would like to encourage everyone to consider sending some mail. My letter to NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN is as follows:

As a member of the military who spent 5 months deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, I am finding it increasingly disturbing to see the one-sided coverage of ongoing events in Iraq as portrayed on the nightly news. There is a lot going on over there, both good and bad, but the overwhelming bias of your stories is appalling. When is the last time you showed the good work that is being done there on a daily basis as more than just a fleeting aside. Schools and powerplants being rebuilt, and Iraqis overjoyed to be free of oppression at last. (I saw it, I know it's there!). Instead you run from shooting to shooting like a bunch of ambulance chasers, always after the dramatic sound bite. If this was all just about ratings it wouldn't be such a concern, but you are influencing public opinion in a deliberately negative manner. Is this for ratings or is there an anti Bush tendency here. I can understand why people suspect both. I implore you to strive for integrity. The media can return to a place of trust in this country once again, but only if you try to remain truly open minded. I think you are falling way short of that goal.

Sincerelty...

---------------------------------

PS - I apologise if this is not exactly a gun related post, but anything that aims at holding the press accountable is good for us in the long run

[Tierhog]

Thank You for your service to this country. Most of the people I know already see the bias in the news and treat it accordingly. Take heart, god bless and good luck.

[UnknownSailor]

If I may, I suggest that you start writing letters, to all your major news stations, and especially your local talk radio. Detal what you saw, and your experiences. Send emails off to some of the blogs out there that cover this particular angle. Sgt Stryker (http://www.sgtstryker.com) and Chief Wiggles (http://chiefwiggles.blog-city.com/) come readily to mind. Most of all, realize that you aren't alone in feeling like this.

[Quartus]

Whoa! A couple of THR newbies! Welcome to you both!

I'll second what Teirhog said, durango. Thanks for your service, and on the subject of the media, what was your first clue? ;)


Been that way for a long time, and getting worse.

[Moparmike]

I havent watched national news (yadda yadda liberal bias crap yadda death rape murder yadda yadda yadda media justice system) in over 6 years. I havent watched local news (murder drugs rape kill murder yadda local oldperson planted a flower yadda 47 people died today in rapes murders stupid stuff) in almost 10.

My home area isnt very violent, but if you were to watch the local news you would think differently.:fire:

[Mike Irwin]

Congratulations...

You've discovered one of the ruling principles of news, be it TV, radio, or print...

Misery, misfortune, and blood sell.

Good acts don't.

[Waitone]

Thank you for service.

Now about watching network news. Don't. I gave up on it about the time I became internet enabled.

Watching the evening news at one time was pretty much a national ritual. No longer now that we have 24 hour cable.

The benefit of the internet is you can hop on a wave and surf just about anywhere in the world. It is a real eye-opener to read papers from other countries. I am continually amazed at what the world press will cover when compared to what the big media in the US deems newsworthy. Some of the best op-ed and stories come out of other regions of the world.

[sm]

Welcome to new members, I too appreciate your service.

News, I sometimes watch the attractive brunette to see local happenings, and the weather. Watching Nat'l News reminds me of TASS news service...gonna tell me what they want me to believe, therefore don't watch.

Other sources, Including THR , will better serve your news needs.

[durango]

One bright spot, AFN (armed forces network) is starting to carry a lot of Fox news. Much more palatable.

[Jrob24]

If you're fed up with left wing biased news then don't watch it. I don't. Watch Fox news or get your news from an internet source.

[RobW]

First semester of "public relations" in my old coutry you learned about media:
"only bad news are good news"

Ethics even in the so called "educated Europe" went down the sewer in just a few years.

But, at least in my time at school, you were tought to mistrust anything printed, spoken, or presented on TV, and encouraged to use your own brains.

Long, long, long time ago...

[bountyhunter]

Watch Fox news or get your news from an internet source.
I am genuinely confused. FOX news is an internet news source.

http://www.foxnews.com/


They have lately been the source of the daily updates on the progress of the investigation into the White House leak regarding the CIA operative. When I post their stories on Forums, I get threatened by the moderators and labeled a "troll" for posting stories from the left-wing media.

I'm starting to understand that "troll" is anybody who says something the moderator doesn't like and "left wing media" is any paper that prints something they don't like.