Vietnam War and the Media

The Vietnam War and the United States media engaged in a complex relationship in the 1960s and 1970s, and for the first time, Americans witnessed the influence of the media on the outcomes of an unpopular war. The core of their association was based upon the necessity to keep the general public informed on the events of the war and the devastation experienced by American soldiers, including dramatic loss of life, life-threatening injuries, and intense violence. While many Americans believed that the media coverage was too intrusive and disrespectful, the journalists and television reporters were often required to defend themselves to a disgruntled audience, who virtually witnessed many key moments of the war on their television sets. It is widely believed that because of the tremendous coverage presented on television during the Vietnam War, media coverage of major events would never be the same. The...
[ View Full Essay]