How Far is TOO Far?

Reporters covering the Vietnam war sent home thousands upon thousands of images and video that shocked the American public. For instance the video of General Ngoc Loan of South Vietnam killing the untried prisoner was shown on the nightly news, but it had undergone some editing.  Rather than showing the part of the film where blood can be seen spewing from the victims head, the network decided to cut to black, I believe that this was in their better judgment.  Have the rules of what is appropriate to publish and what isn't changed over time?  More recently there was an incident in Boston where the moments before a young womens death were captured on camera and published on the front page of the paper.  Was this in the papers best taste?  Is it alright to show these photos, knowing that the woman died mere milliseconds after?  I think that photojournalism is a great tool for informing the audience but I think that there should be some ethics to them.

While watching television the other day I was shocked at some of the images I was witnessing on the screen.  Horrendous images of bodies hanging lifeless from the gallows, bodies dismembered and covered in blood stained sheets (some covering barely more than the victims face).  I thought for a moment that maybe I somehow had come across a premium channel that typically has less restrictions about the material they show, but much to my surprise I was watching National Geographic!  This channel is one of very few channels now a days that holds any educational value, doesn't one think that it would be best not to offend (and potentially traumatize) their younger viewers?  Do these images respect the subjects of the photos?  Would YOU want to see dead bodies in the newspaper while sipping your morning coffee or while flipping through the channels with your family at night?


I fully support the fourth estate, and the rights protected by the first amendment but I also think that there should be boundaries set to respect the dead and their family.

An Overview of The Vietnam War

Chapter 12 - The Vietnam War: Bringing the Battlefield into the American Living Room

• The Vietnam War was the first televised war and also became known as the least successful war in American history.
• Because TV brought home the terrifying images of the war, audiences began to think of the war as "senseless".

America's Longest War

• Involvement in the war began during Truman's presidency in the early 1950's.  The United States hoped to stop communist North Vietnam from following China's governmental example while also hoping to spread the democratic beliefs of Southern Vietnam.
• In 1964, northern Vietnamese boats attacked US patrol boats causing President Johnson to order a retaliation.
• Unfortunately for the U.S. soldiers the Vietnamese were well aware of their geography and able to easily blend in with the surrounding terrain.  This was known as Guerilla warfare, and although the American soldiers were better equipped, ths type of warfare is what gave the Vietnamese such a great advantage.
• Approximately more than 58,000 Americans died fighting while between 1 and 3 million Southeast Asians lost their lives.

The Most Powerful Medium in History

• ABC, NBS, and CBS were bringing in over 35 million viewers nightly.
• During the war, reporters over seas had no restrictions on what they were allowed to report.  This made the Vietnam war the first war without military censors, it was also the last war without censorship.  Eventually officials set guidelines that categorized 15 different topics that were not allowed to be reported on until they were officially announced in Saigon.
• Advances on technology brought the front line battles into the homes of millions of Americans every night.  The typically black and white images were changed into color, causing the images of blood to be even more vivid and grotesque.

Exposing the Horrors of War

• Audiences of the Vietnam War were most interested in seeing wounded American soldiers as opposed to those of Vietnamese.  "It's not a Vietnamese was; it's an American war in Asia.  And that's the only story the American audience is interested in."  This statement was delivered by the NBC vice president at the time. 
• NBC's vice president went as far to inform his correspondents focus strictly on sending home images of U.S. soldiers in action, and most "preferably" images of mortal combat.

A Zippo Lighter Ignites a Firestorm

• In the early years of the war the most controversial story was reported by Morley Safer from CBS.  Marines were shown burning an entire village hut by hut using merely a Zippo lighter.  Many people complained to the network claiming that this video footage makes the U.S. soldiers out to be completely heartless.
• President Johnson was one among the upset viewers who contacted the network in order to express his distaste towards the footage.

Tet Stuns a Nation

• The Tet offensive took place in late January 1968 and was initiated by the North Vietnamese.  This offensive consisted of attacks on 100 cities, military bases, and villages throughout South Vietnam.  The attacks ceased after several hours but the fighting in the south persisted for another 10 days.
• The Tet offensive was a huge thing for televised news, it was "America's first TV superbattle."  ABC, NBC, and CBS reported Tet as a victory for the Viet Cong even though the evidence showed that it clearly was not.

The Shot Felt Around the World

• NBC reporter Howard Tucker was filming in South Vietnam (our ally) when General Nguyen Ngoc Loan shot an untried prisoner at point blank range.  The camera man caught the entire act on film, beginning with the prisoner being presented to the General, all the way through to the prisoners body collapsing into a heap with blood spraying horribly from the wound on his head.  
• This footage began to change the American's view on the war.  TV was hugely impacting the change in the American attitude.

Exposing the War as Unwinnable

• Walter Cronkite really set a tone for the potential outcome of the war.  He shared his personal opinions and beliefs about the war on his news broadcasts.  He eventually stated that it was his belief that this would be the first war that America could not win.  President Johnson stated that if he had lost the support of Cronkite, then it was obvious that he had finally lost the war.
• Johnson announced his decision to withdraw troops from Vietnam as well as his decision to not run for reelection.
• The wars negative tone continued to grow.  The My Lai massacre, after which U.S. Lieutenant William Calley was convicted of mass murder, was one eye opener presented by Seymour Hersh.  Another was when newspapers began reporting on secret government documents that showed the military's political motivations rather than a humanitarian motivation.

Antiwar Protesters Fight for the Spotlight

• As the war escalated so did the protesters.  Television helped progress the protesters towards a larger spotlight.  Protesters were originally viewed as traitors and frowned upon, but over time, as the war began to end, it became clear that although protesters did not support the war did not mean they supported the enemy.
• When President Nixon disregarded his promise to not expand the war by sending troops into Cambodia, protesters were in an uproar.  On Kent State University campus the National Guard opened fire on student protesters, ultimately killing  four.  This caused some 1.5 million students to become enraged and continue their protesting greater than ever.

Television News Helps End a War

• The United States was losing the Vietnam war no matter what the politicians were saying.  TV coverage of the war helped bring an end to the war.  It was believed that if the American's could send their children to war, then they should also be prepared to witness the destruction and carnage that war creates.

The power of photojournalism

Many reporters over seas during the Vietnam war sent home vivid and graphic images of not only blood and gore, but of horror and fear as well.


The Vietnam War

Because this war was also the longest fought war, it was not as though there was only one or two news specials on it, but there were images, being seen by American's EVERYDAY.

The Vietnam War - How TV Shaped the War

The Vietnam War was the first televised war in American history.  Because of technological advances in TV equipment, grotesque and in color images were being sent back to the states on a daily basis.  The war was no longer something that the country simply read about, but it was something they experienced. The images were so disturbing to the viewers that the country began to have a change of heart, deciding that the war was senseless and unnecessary; the general public quickly went from supporting the war to protesting it.

This famous image became embedded into the minds of the American people.  A Southern Vietnamese officer (one who was fighting on our side) shot an untried prisoner at point blank.  American's were horrified by the actions being taken over seas.  Many believe that by bringing the images of the war to the public's attention is what helped put an end to the war when it did.

Muckraking Now-a-days

There are some, though not many, magazines today that still practice mukraking to an extent.  For example, The New Yorker magazine uses cartoons to help drive the point home to it's readers.  Though not all of the cartoons delve deep into the political under belly of society, some (as seen above) are more humorous and lighthearted. 

Why Would Anyone want to "rake muck?"

When applying to college I decided to declare a Journalism major.  The thought of exposing the truth and being a liaison between the public and everything they wanted to know was something that always appealed to me.  Many of my English teachers encouraged my career choice, saying that if there was anyone for that job it was me.  Writing was more than just a class requirement to me, it was a way to have your voice heard and helping others to gain the information they want.  Muckraking is exactly what investigative journalism is all about, doing the dirty work that many people do not want to do in order to get to the bottom of a situation at hand.  It is definitely more than just writing, it involves a dedication to your topic or subject, and not being afraid to expose the truth no matter who does not like it.  Streitmatter for instance warns his readers that if they want to take a journalistic approach to things there are many things that they must be prepared to deal with.  For example, the ability to stand behind their findings and work even if they are the only ones standing there, they also must not be afraid to "set the agenda"(Streitmatter 257), and even the possibility that they will face much discrimination and criticism.  Pushing the limits and voicing your opinion whether or not people like it is something I find exhilarating and also fun.  This chapter was of great interest to me when deciding which chapter to do for my second blog assignment.

Lay it out and break it down

Muckraking - Chapter 6

• Immigration was at an all time high into the United States.  More people meant more labor resources.
• The fourth estate takes a stand in exposing corruption throughout many major industries.
• Theodore Roosevelt refers to what the investigative journalists are doing as similar to "raking muck" (hence the term "Muckraking).

1.  Attacking Municipal Corruption

• Lincoln Steffens - works to expose corruption in the municipal government.
• seen as the first Muckraker
• Steffen moved from city to city exposing the senators of different states and causing them to leave office.

2.  Busting the Trusts

• The leading muckraking magazine is founded by S.S. McClure.
• Ida Tarbell has her breakthrough moment in muckraking.  She covers the corruption in the oil industry.
• Tarbell's way of writing helped fuel enthusiasm from the nation.
• In 1906 congress passes the Hepburn Act - responsible for assigning penalties to railroad companies that have specific arrangements with major companies.

3.  Awakening the Public to Dangerous Foods and Drugs

• Investigative journalists aimed their focus on the food and drug industries.
• Upton Sinclair exposed the horrible conditions within the meat packing industry. 
• Ladies' Home Journal lead the crusade against the drugs.  It informed it's readers of the lies within the drugs ads and claims. 

4.  Exposing "Treason" in the U.S. Senate

• The senators were paid by the Standard Oil company.
• David Graham Phillips began exposing senators in cities all over the country. 

5.  Muckraking: An Unparalleled Legacy

• Muckraking brought about many drastic changes
• the hold on the oil industry ended
• trusts that controlled the railroad, liquor, mining, sugar, and beef were ended.
• The public was given this information to make them aware of things that can directly affect them.

Further Reading

Not only an American classic, but possibly an american horror story as well?  How would you feel if you found out that you were being sold human flesh mixed in with your meat?  Mad cow disease is brought about by cows being fed beef, therefore triggering them to go insane...what about humans?

Personally, the thought alone churns my stomach...
See what else Sincalir found in his investigation inside The Jungle

Chapter 6 "Muckraking" - In a Nutshell

During the 19th century, the republican party focused on the "American System".  The main idea was that the nation would use it's resources (i.e. humans for labor) to help form America into an industrial leader, while not being affected but foreign interruptions.  Many new immigrants were flocking to America looking to form a new life for themselves.  They worked in terrible working conditions and lived in conditions just as bad.
"...a society dominated by a few gluttonously rich robber barons who feasted on life's pleasures while the teeming masses struggled to stave off starvation" (Streitmatter 94).
How come the rich always seem to get richer while the poor seem to get poorer? Especially today, the middle class is diminishing at an extremely rapid rate.
When the population needed it the most, the fourth estate began fighting against the corruption of the nation.  The term "Muckraking" became popular after President Theodore Roosevelt referred to the investigative journalists as "raking muck."
Lincoln Steffens was the first recognized muckraker.  He dedicated himself to investigating the inner workings of the municipal government of the United States.  Steffens traveled from city to city, exposing the corruption in each one as he went.
The lead muckraking magazine was founded by S.S. McClure.  McClure used his magazine to expose the corruption in the oil industry; Standard Oil in particular.  He also chose Ida Tarbell as the reporter on the matter.  This was Tarbell's big break.  She quickly became a household favorite based on her style of writing, and the way she presented her topics.
"These articles are the Uncle Tom's Cabin of to-day, revealing the criminalities and outrages of the trust system" (Streitmatter 99).
Muckrakers began to see the fruits of their labor in 1906 with the passing of the Hepburn Act.  This act made penalties extremely severe for railroads that had arranged deals with large companies.
Exposing the horrid conditions of the meatpacking industry and patent medicines were other focuses of the muckrakers.  Upton Sinclair wrote "The Jungle" giving his audience a look into the meatpacking industry, and the lack of regard for the product.  "...exhausted workers sometimes fell into the huge vats where meat was being canned - which meant that consumers were unknowingly eating human flesh" (Streitmatter 101).  Many critics reported Sinclair's series was actually fiction as opposed to investigative journalism.
There were many issues with patent medicines being advertised and sold all over the country.  Many of the "remedies actually contained morphine, or some other ingredients not mentioned (i.e. alcohol), esentially causing its users to become addicted to drugs.  From these different revelations spawned the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Consumer driven industries were not the only things that had corruption within them; government was another major outlet of corruption, especially the senate.  David Graham Phillips debuted a series in 1906 that began seeking out the corrupt officials and having them removed from office.  By 1912 Phillips had exposed 75 different senators, all of whom left office.

Because of Muckraking the population is aware of what is going all around them.  It opens their eyes to things that they may not have seen before.  The general public does not get to see behind the closed doors of the government and other industries, and muckraking broke down the wall between the two.

"Mightier" Continues....Taking a look at Muckraking

Muckraking

Muckraking was a large practice in the early 1900's but died out when WWI began and when general-interest magazines began to take rise.  Muckraking was a controversial way of investigative journalism that typically carried a negative connotation, although there were some journalists who welcomed and were proud of the title.

Let's Review Women's Rights

It all began in 1848, at the Seneca Falls Convention; That was the first stone cast for Women's Rights and it created more than just a ripple effect. Unfortunately it was not easy to gain the support of men, especially ones that controlled the journalism industry.  They did everything they could to slow the women's rights movement and hinder the progress the women made. In 1792 (before the Seneca Falls convention), Ladies Magazine became the first thing written solely for the female audience.  The leaders of the movement decided to take action, they began to form their own, more wide spread, brach of the fourth estate.  Though circulation was not abundent the leaders still contined to forge on.  After the meeting in Seneca Falls many men and women signed a declaration or sentiments.  Of all the resolutions propsed and voted on, Women's Suffrage, was the only one that did not pass unanimously.  Only after Frederick Douglass appealed the matter did it pass, and even then it just passed.By the 1850's Elizabth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony joined forces to help further the women's movement.  At the end of the World War I former male slaves had obtained the right to vote, this only ruffled the women's right's activists feathers even more.  It seems as though the harder the women fought, the harder the newpapers fought against them.  Because the fourth estate used it's power of free speech for negative purposes the movement leaders had no choice but to create their own outlets.  Fortunately, today the fourth estate does not typically use it's power to further their own agenda.

The Women Fight Outside the Press

Streitmatter mostly mentions the women's rights activists as fighting for their cause through the press, but there are other actions that were taken...

New York Times - Women's Suffrage

Women were treated as the lowest of the low for a while.  The recently freed male slaves were granted the right to vote before the women; people who used to not count as even a full vote (3/5ths Compromise). The 19th amendment was finally passed on August 26, 1920.

The 19th Amendment