December 2, 2005

Pushback Day-9

Andi’s Pushback continues but she hasn’t let us know who is on tap for today, so allow me to point you in the direction of someone on the ground in Iraq that has his own theories about who is the culprit in the media’s bias against our efforts in Iraq.

Phil of Phil and Becky who is deployed to Iraq gives us a little insight into what it’s like to host a reporter. He intelligently points out, “My little conspiracy theory is that the villains in the media are not necessarily the guys on the ground getting the stories but rather it is the editors and ideologues back home who pick and choose which stories to run.”

I’d say he might have hit the nail right on the head with that little line. The journalists are looking for a story and it truly is the editors back in the States or where ever the paper is based that “edit” the story to match their guidelines and ideologies.

He goes on to write, “Whenever we host a reporter, I find out the individual's name beforehand and then do a Google search for previous articles he or she has written. It can give us an idea as to how guarded we have to be. Unfortunately, there is some distrust between soldiers and journalists. I wish it didn't have to be that way because the media could be such a useful tool in the information war."

So true Sir, the media could be helping tremendously but instead they are focused on the negative. No wonder they are up in arms about the recent “discovery” that the military is sending out positive press releases that highlight the accomplishments of US troops, to be published in the Arab papers. Its competition they can’t handle.

Good luck Phil and stay safe.

When I know who is hosting today I’ll be sure to let you all know, until then keep the faith!

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