Press Blackout

[Lee Chambers]

Real, Ethical journalism is pretty much dead and since nobody really cares it's going to eventually die completely and the paparazi mentality is going to gain absolute control of the media -- and then civilization will end the following tuesday.

I agree but I see the end going a different way, where the government sees the media as irresponsible and out of control and decide to put an end to the freedom of the press. And you can say "Well, we have the first amendment (or equivalent in your country of choice) so they can't do that." Really? If they begin arresting reporters and editors, who's going to stop them?

 

[Weird Harold]

Really? If they begin arresting reporters and editors, who's going to stop them?

Other reporters and editors and then the anonymous internet bloggers.

There have never been enough prisons to hold all of the reporters and publishers if they are determined to get the news out and the people want to hear it. The Internet has put the equivalent of a 19th century printing press in every home and Governments will never again be able to control the flow of information by oppression as long as the internet survives.

 

[Belegon]

the appetite of the public for sensationalism and gossip is hardly a new thing... and as 3113 pointed out, periods that successfully emphasized journalistic integrity have been far too rare.

I hope that there will always be Edward R. Murrow's and Woodward & Bernsteins's out there... but I am sadly aware they will always have an uphill fight.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Voluntarily with the promise of getting full access to the footage of Harry at war. I applaud it that the press kept quiet. Screw Drudge. Then again, the cynical side of me thinks the timing quite convenient to give Harry a taste, some cred and back to safety after a short stint.

I doubt that the timing was convenient. In Harry's case it has more to do with duty and honor. You will remember that there was no early home for his uncle, Prince Andrew who fought in the Falklands, and that his grandmother, the then Princess Elizabeth drove an ambulance during the blitz while his great-grandfather, George VI refused the advice of Churchill and Parliment and stayed in residence at Buckingham Palace.

 

[jomar]

I doubt that the timing was convenient. In Harry's case it has more to do with duty and honor. You will remember that there was no early home for his uncle, Prince Andrew who fought in the Falklands, and that his grandmother, the then Princess Elizabeth drove an ambulance during the blitz while his great-grandfather, George VI refused the advice of Churchill and Parliment and stayed in residence at Buckingham Palace.

I'm wasn't doubting his courage and commitment, but the nature of this war is different that those you mention. The convenience comment was geared more toward the folks advising him and managing the situation. Harry gets a couple of months of in-country duty, gets outed by Drudge, sent back to relative safety and people can relax a bit.

 

[Lee Chambers]

I'm wasn't doubting his courage and commitment, but the nature of this war is different that those you mention. The convenience comment was geared more toward the folks advising him and managing the situation. Harry gets a couple of months of in-country duty, gets outed by Drudge, sent back to relative safety and people can relax a bit.

Unfortunately theres no way to know who let the secret out since so many people knew about it. It could have been elements within the military, the government, the royal family, or even one of the many news stations that were in on it. All it would have taken was one e-mail to Drudge from an anonymous source to have him begin sniffing around and asking the questions about Harry's whereabouts.

 

[jomar]

Unfortunately theres no way to know who let the secret out since so many people knew about it. It could have been elements within the military, the government, the royal family, or even one of the many news stations that were in on it. All it would have taken was one e-mail to Drudge from an anonymous source to have him begin sniffing around and asking the questions about Harry's whereabouts.

Exactly.