War Reporting Still Mostly Stenography

Analysis:

This story is about defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s press conference in which he criticizes media coverage of the violence in Iraq following the bombing of a Shiite Mosque. In the story, Rumsfeld’s voice is theonly one presented. The does the reporter present any critical look at Rumsfeld’s statement in piece. The defense secretary doesn’t just disagree with reports that Iraq is on the cusp of civil war, he says that these reports “give heart to terrorists and discourage those that hope for success in Iraq,” a statement which infers an anti-US agenda on the part of these reports. Rather than challenge that claim, the FOX 17 story essentially affirms it by following Rumfeld’s comment with “Its not just reporters.” No other voices are presented in the story and other than some poll numbers, no background information is presented as well.

Story:

FOX 17 Newsreader – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said reporters are exaggerating the possibility of civil war in Iraq. Today he accused the media of overstating the seriousness of the current situation in Iraq. Following the terrorist attack on that Shiite Mosque and hundreds of retaliation killings that followed. He based his accusation on military reports that say the level isn’t growing.

Rumsfeld – A steady stream of errors all seem to be of a nature to inflame the situation and to give heart to the terrorists and to discourage those that hope for success in Iraq.

Newsreader – But it’s not just reporters; Iraqi officials and the US ambassador to Iraq have all gone on record saying conditions are ripe for civil war. And according to a new poll released today by the Washington Post, 80 percent of Americans now believe that civil war is likely, that’s across partisan lines.

Total Time: 48 seconds