Monday, March 9, 2009

Fallen Soldiers, Coming Home In Public

A. What is the article about?
This article is discussing the previous ban on photographs of coffins of dead soldiers being published. It describes some of the benefits, negative results, and the justifications for this ban. There is also much speculation about how President Obama will handle this controversial issue when soldiers start getting sent home dead because of his war, instead of President Bush’s.



B. What do you think about the material/information in this article? How does it seem to fit with our journalism class?
The material relates directly to our class because it talks about publishing photos and the restrictions that we, as journalists, have when it comes to what we can or can not publish. Many people don’t realize that journalists do have restrictions. Even with ‘Freedom of Speech,’ it’s not always in the journalist’s best interest to print some things. This article really helps the public see how fine the line really is. When it comes to sensitive matters, such as death, it is especially important for journalists to be sensitive to the people who will be reading the articles.




C. What questions are you left with? What kind of articles in journalism would you like to read next?I’m wondering why the photographs of the dead is considered to be such a negative thing. Sure, it can create anger and can lose support of the war. But doesn’t it also create support for the soldiers? I think it could bring our country together even more. Bringing the war closer to home may make it more real to people. I like this kind of article because it does relate directly to journalism, but it’s also something that’s affecting our lives right now.