Pros and Cons of Embedded Journalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pros and Cons of Embedded Journalism - Essay ExampleBefore acceptance to aggregate the military, reporters sign contracts that give a standard or guidelines of when and what they can report on. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of embed journalism. Pros First, embedded journalism improves the relationship amidst the government and the armed forces media. After journalists embedment they become part of the military slew that travels around with them recording their activity in accordance to the agreement. Reporters depend on the military for food, shelter, and protection from the enemy. The invariable contacts between the ii build trust and reduce the common suspicion that normally exists between the two parties. Both informal and formal settings that develop during the embedment period can result in great hydrofoil because the government and the armed forces will find it easy to pass tuition freely. Secondly, embedment of journalists allows them to travel with the military watch their every move. They ar like watchdogs that make the military responsible of their every activity. tally to Komarow as quoted in college of journalism and mass communication, US media helped in making sure that the US armed forces were held accountable for battery an Afghan wedding party. This is after the initial investigators went to the scene together with the journalists for investigations and they unearthed a hidden agenda that in bombing, US armed forces wanted to erase evidence. Pressure from the media caused them to take responsibility (Berens, 2004, p.1). Thirdly, since the embedded journalists can overture the battle scenes, they get more information and faster than those removed from the battle zones. Hannah and Baylor concur with this and argue, Reporters travelled by aircrafts to and from the battle zones and were free to observe the combat operations (Hannah, 2007, p.8). With the modern technology then this accessible information can be p assed on instantly to other destinations. Fourthly, embedded journalists receive information from different perspectives. Their corporal presence allows them to talk to the soldiers, commanders, and talk to the people around the battle filed. Multiple sources of information make provoke stories. Cons Embedding of journalists has so many disadvantages. First, the contract that journalists sign with the military immobilise them in their reporting. According to Lehrer, Before joining theirbattalions, the embedded journalists had to sign a contract restricting when and what they can report (Lehrer, 2012, P.1). Embedding is the hotheaded force behind coverage and embedded journalists can only describe military actions in frequent terms and they are restricted from reporting on future missions.Those who opt to stay outside the embedment are not left free since the government to comply at times harasses them. According to Rajan, the distinction between patriotism and fair reporting be comes fuzzy in such circumstances (Rajan, 2005, p.13). Secondly, embedded journalists work cash in ones chips in hand with the soldiers and depend on them for protection, food and other social amenities. This closeness may hinder proper scrutiny and reporting of foul actions. Fortner and Fackler argues that,