Inspired by Reasons Chris Bray, Joe Katzman at Winds of Change discusses the ineptness of the media when reporting on matters military. Great round up of links to illustrate how bad it can get.
It seems like a simple problem that could be cured by some basic diligence, research; and professional standards that demand real subject expertise to the same level as, say, sports journalism. But that doesn’t seem to be happening, which leads one to wonder why not.
With examples like this it’s hard to argue.
“One of the things you learn quickly in the military is to never, ever rile an Army Ranger, as foes have learned the hard way from Normandy to the Middle East,” wrote Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Kilian, with near-audible grunts and chest blows. How tough are the Army’s elite infantrymen? So tough, Kilian explained, that Rangers brag about parachuting into Alabama — and walking all the way back to Fort Benning, Georgia.
It’s worth pointing out that Fort Benning, Georgia, sits on the Alabama border. In fact, part of Fort Benning sits inside Alabama, including the part with the parachute drop.
Actually, anyone who has ever been interviewed about a specialty field can probably relate similar stories. Even in my own little niche sport, they very nearly always get something completely wrong.
Even worse, they often get confused about what constitutes an expert source – such as when they consult a humane society spokesperson to flesh out a piece on purebred dogs. Rather like asking the concession guy at a Nascar race about engine specifications.
“Even worse, they often get confused about what constitutes an expert source – such as when they consult a humane society spokesperson to flesh out a piece on purebred dogs. Rather like asking the concession guy at a Nascar race about engine specifications.”
It’s far worse that just that, 90+% of the miltary errors would be caught by any high school “war geek” – the guys who like to play battle simulations, or by anyone who locked themselves in a room with some books about the subject. Just reading “How to Make War” by Dunnigan or his other book about conflicts around the world real and potential, would make a HUGE difference.
They didn’t even bother asking the Nascar guy. They might know.
That’s what happens when you hire journalists from journalism school, rather than people who have an education about that which is being covered, who know how to write too.