Post by PapaSmurerf on Jun 29, 2007 16:28:15 GMT -5
UBC Reports | Vol. 48 | No. 2 | Jan. 24, 2002
The Fog of Patriotism
In times of crisis, Assoc. Prof. Stephen Ward argues that the primary duty of journalists is to the public, not the state
by Assoc. Prof. Stephen Ward
In every crisis, in every war, journalists come under pressure to be "patriotic."
Patriotism, in this context, is not just a love of one's country. It is an extreme, emotion-driven patriotism that demands that all citizens "get on side" and support uncritically the government's actions.
The social pressure that such patriotism can exert on both the public and the news media has never been clearer than since the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington. Journalists, especially in the United States, have felt the pressure to suspend or water-down the standards of journalism: to root for the home team, to minimize dissent, to censor the "enemy" and to maintain morale.
Supporting the home effort becomes the primary aim, overriding other journalistic functions such as acting as a watchdog and providing a forum for diverse views. On this view, special times call for special measures.
I disagree.
-Full article-
The Fog of Patriotism
In times of crisis, Assoc. Prof. Stephen Ward argues that the primary duty of journalists is to the public, not the state
by Assoc. Prof. Stephen Ward
In every crisis, in every war, journalists come under pressure to be "patriotic."
Patriotism, in this context, is not just a love of one's country. It is an extreme, emotion-driven patriotism that demands that all citizens "get on side" and support uncritically the government's actions.
The social pressure that such patriotism can exert on both the public and the news media has never been clearer than since the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington. Journalists, especially in the United States, have felt the pressure to suspend or water-down the standards of journalism: to root for the home team, to minimize dissent, to censor the "enemy" and to maintain morale.
Supporting the home effort becomes the primary aim, overriding other journalistic functions such as acting as a watchdog and providing a forum for diverse views. On this view, special times call for special measures.
I disagree.
-Full article-