Terror(ism), War and the Media

Type: 
Panel Discussion
Audience: 
Open to the Public
Speaker: 
Miklos Sukosd
Keith W. Mines
Krisztina Bombera
Attila Kert
Building: 
Nador u. 9, Faculty Tower
Room: 
809
Monday, May 17, 2004 - 3:00pm
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Date: 
Monday, May 17, 2004 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Panelists:

  • Keith W. Mines, Political Military Affairs Official , US Embassy, Budapest
  • Krisztina Bombera, News Reporter, TV2 (covered 9/11 from New York )
  • Attila Kert , News Director, TV2
  • Miklos Sukosd, Department of Political Science, CEU, and CEU Center for Media and Communications Studies
  • Vladislav Todorov, University of Pennsylvania , and CPS Anti-Americanism Program Fellow

Events of 2004 in Iraq demonstrated some of the limits on governmental control over the news cycle. Besides criticisms of the policy of 'embedding' journalists in the 'front line', the publication of pictures of US forces abusing Iraqi inmates further undermined the story of liberation, the oppressed and the terrorists. Increasingly the global news agenda appeared as competition between very different media. Not only did they communicate in different ways, their sense of responsibility, independence and audience was also distinct. The message for governments seeking to get 'their story' over was that it was hard to ignore this variety of media. What may have been true for governments was also true for 'terrorists'. Their use of the media created very difficult between reporting and advocacy, between breaking news and reckless judgement calls for both journalists and editors. Where is the line endangerment? This and other issues were discussed by a distinguished panel.

The event was followed by a reception.