Homeland Security

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Media was embedded in the army in 2003 during the war in Iraq after much dissatisfaction by media houses at the limited access to war zones they got in 1991 Gulf of war and 2001 Afghanistan war. During embedded journalism, the reporters sign contracts with the army. They vow not to report information that could compromise the position of the unit or any future missions or classified weapons or any vital information they might come across. Embedded journalism goes against the first amendment law. The first amendment law allows freedom of the press meaning that the media is free to report what they have researched and found to be true (Branzburg, 2008). Embedded journalists do not report the entire truth in war scenarios but only that approved by the military.

Attaching media reporters to military units can have great advantages for both the army and the media houses involved. One advantage for the military is that they get information power. Journalists are naturally curious and research where information gathered can be used as intelligence by the military. The military by making the reporters sign the contract will have its story told in a manner that favors them. The stories reported will be biased leaning to the advantage of the military (National Strategy for Homeland Security, 2007). Incorporation of media in the army is also a positive move in that the outside world is not kept in the dark of proceedings in the war even though they only get fragments of what goes on. It gives media the exposure they require to be able to relay information to the public on what goes on in the world news. An advantage to the media is by being with the trained army they get the protection they would lack if they decided to follow independent reporting.

A disadvantage is that the journalists do not undergo the same training as the soldiers in war zones hence may be at a higher level of danger of being targeted. Improvised explosive devices being the leading cause of harm pose a great risk for the soldiers therefore the journalists are at the same risk as the soldiers they are traveling with, a danger they could avoid if they did not report in war zones. Yet another disadvantage is that the journalist does not have the freedom to report overall war details but only slices of the war hence the public does not get to realize the entire case of events occurring in the war zone. Another disadvantage is the distortion of information where the journalists may report inaccurate or exaggerated information that could lead to aggravation of the war or cause alarm in the countries involved.

Live reporting of war areas can be hazardous for the army especially if the reporting and transmition of data occurs via satellite as the enemy party can intercept satellite reception to locate the exact location where the is military is based (Nakaya, 2005). Embedded journalists can also be spies from the opposition team strategically deployed to collect intelligence hence by having them in the camps is dangerous for the military as the can easily gather the information they need and send it to their team in coded language hence using the military’s information against them to bring them to their downfall.

Reference

Tanenhaus, D. S. & Gale (Firm). (2008). Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court of the United States. Detroit : Macmillan Reference USA. Gale virtual reference library