The Mass Media and
National Security
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Christopher Carey
COMM. 115
I chose this topic specifically
because…
Of the state of war our country is in right
now.
 I felt it would be interesting to see how the
media affects national security.
 I researched using many techniques:

Library
 Online Databases
 Various Books
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Here is what I found…
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During wartime and other
national security issues,
free speech within the
media can become
dangerous.
Before researching, I felt
the media should be
allowed to write, publish,
broadcast most of what it
came across.
After researching, I feel
the media should know its
limits during such
sensitive times.
The First Amendment
http://www.floridacompact.org/photos/misc/constitution.jpg

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The only profession by law singled out by the
constitution.
Can reporting on certain issues take this right to far?
During wartime this can become very dangerous.
Censoring the Media


From the Pentagon to
the military, everyone
has a way of
censoring issues.
Helping the Enemy


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http://www.photography-plus.com/images/Pentagon.jpg
War Plans
False Accusations
Rescue Missions
http://www.bendib.com/newones/2006/january/small/1-14-The-Terrorists-Win.jpg
The Pentagon Papers
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June 13, 1971
7,000 page top-secret
Department of
Defense history.
Involvement and
strategy in the
Vietnam War.
The Governments
argument.
http://www.bayarea.net/~kins/AboutMe/Cranbrook/GIFs/PentagonPapers_bookcover.jpg
Publicizing Terrorism
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http://med.stanford.edu/research/spotlight/images/anthrax_big.jpg
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http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/032506sowell.jpg
The 2001 anthrax
attack on America
Publicity
Syndicated Columnist
Thomas Sowell’s
thoughts.
People begin to fear
the worst
Ethics and the Truth!!!
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The Radio-Television News Directors Association on the
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
“Professional electronic journalists should pursue truth
aggressively and present the news accurately, in
context, and as completely as possible….”
Unreliable sources
Geraldo Rivera

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Kicked out of Iraq
Reporters traveling
with coalition forces
in Iraq are to refrain
from disclosing
sensitive
information.
Rivera had
‘compromised
operational security’
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In Conclusion…
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The freedom of speech and press is exercised
tremendously throughout the media.
Many reporters do not care how harmful a story
may be as long as they get to report on it.
Sensitive issues in times of national security
should be looked at closely and ethically by the
journalist in order to determine whether or not it
is suitable or dangerous for the American public
to hear.
Written
Researched
Produced
&
Directed
By
My Website
Christopher Carey
Works Cited
Berger, Melvin. Censorship. New York: Franklin Watts, 1982
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Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. RTNDA2000 International Conferance, 14 Sept. 2000,
Radio-Television News Directors Association.
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Grazia, Edward D. "Papering the Pentagon." Nation os 264 (1997): 28-32. Academic Search
Premier. EBSCOhost. Kings College, Wilkes-Barre. 25 Oct. 2006.
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Johnson, Steve. “Peter Arnett, Geraldo Rivera casualties of real-time war coverage.”
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Chicago Tribune Mon, March 31, 2003.
Plante, Chris. "Military Kicks Geraldo Out of Iraq." CNN. 31 Mar. 2003. 4 May 2006
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<http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/31/sprj.irq.geraldo/>.
Sowell, Thomas. “The Media Should Use Better Judgment During Wartime.” Should There Be
Limits to Free Speech? Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
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