Lost In The Media

After viewing Control Room, Keenan's article, "Where are Human Rights...?" came to mind. Within the article Keenan discusses a 'battle' within media. It is written, "we are in a battle, and that more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. And that we are in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds..." (Keenan 60)

During the war with Iraq, there were so many different sides and point of views saturating all kinds of mediums. Considering the overwhelming amount of images and opinions of the same event, a huge discussion on the war began, within many different regions. Different point of views fed through so many mediums generates a "persuading, and negotiating with, public opinion", which could create divide.

However, what we should consider is, how detrimental is persuasion and negotiation with public opinion really is. While there may not be agreement between different new stations, for example, (which was shown withing Control Room) this doesn't necessarily mean this is an aid to the terrorists. The overexposure and overcoverage of the Iraq War, while giving publicity to the terrorists, also brings about new discussions and questions to the public. Through discussion and questioning, new ideas and opinions can be created in order to develop change in some way, shape or form -- first step towards change, starts with thinking differently.

For example, there was the discussion of the showing of the corpses of American soldiers on the station, Al Jazeera. There was an argument that this kind of showing was disturbing, and inappropriate. However, when Al Jazeera, showed the corpses of innocent civilians that died during a bombing, the reaction was different somehow. There was some sort of disconnect there -- the disturbing pictures of foreign civilians did not arouse the same sympathy from Americans that came about from the viewing of American soldiers. One of the soldiers being interviewed realized this, and was then disturbed by this realization, but at least began thinking differently.

Disagreement among media is most definitely confusing and overwhelming for the public, but possibly necessary in order to give the public most freedom is developing their own original ideas on the subject, versus absorbing propaganda at face-value.