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American Morning

America's New War: Possible Public Backlash on Media Coverage of New War Ahead

Aired September 24, 2001 - 10:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now it's time to turn the camera on ourselves for a moment and look at how the media is covering this story.

Howard Kurtz is the host of CNN's "Reliable Sources" and the media reporter for the "Washington Post."

Good morning, thanks for being with us this morning.

HOWARD KURTZ, "WASHINGTON POST" MEDIA WRITER: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: This is the United States second experience with terrorism on American soil. Based on what you've read in prints and the amount of television you've seen, do you think that journalists are falling prey to boosterism?

KURTZ: A few might be. By and large I think the coverage has been serious, sober, and somewhat independent. In fact, there's starting to be a bit of friction between journalists and the Bush administration and the Pentagon over how far you can go in reporting the preparations for what President Bush is calling: "a new war."

But some journalists, as you know, Paula, are taking the step of actually wearing little lapel flags on the air. And I want to say this very carefully: journalists are patriots, journalists love their country, journalists are shocked, horrified and appalled by the brutality of these attacks; but most journalists, in my view, should not become cheerleaders for team USA by waiving a flag on the air.

ZAHN: You're not suggest by this waving a flag on the air or wearing a red, white and blue lapel button that they somehow are leaving all their journalistic credibility at the door, are you?

KURTZ: I guess I'm suggesting that it sends an ambiguous symbol. Certainly, it also has a practical effect, because news organizations like CNN, which have reporters in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan, places that are -- where there are large elements who are hostile to country, probably would have more trouble getting access, or even their lives might be jeopardized if they are seen as representatives of an American flag waving network.

So no, I'm not suggesting that they sacrifice all objectivity, but I do think you give up certain rights when you're a journalist. You don't march in political demonstrations, you don't contribute to political candidates, and probably in a time like this, you can certainly support America without waving that symbol in front of the camera.

ZAHN: Well, the polls would suggest, particularly after the president's speech last week, that they wholly support what he is doing right now. And you talk about some of the friction that's beginning to surface between journalists and the Bush administration now as military plans are played.

You do -- do you have confidence that journalists are going to ask the kind of tough questions that the American public deserves to know the answers to?

KURTZ: Well, journalists, like the Supreme Court, read the polls, and I think that journalists may be treading lightly, I guess put that way, right now at a time of extraordinary national unity and extraordinary support for the president.

But when the shooting starts, if troops are involved, if cruise missiles are dropping, we'll see a replay, I believe, of what we saw during the Gulf War; which is that the Pentagon and the White House are going to try to clamp down on information; journalists are going to try to do their job of independently gathering information. And there's no question that the public will support the government and that journalists will be seen as unpopular if they push too hard, if they report critical information once a war is actually going on.

ZAHN: And there's no doubt in your mind, Howard -- very quickly I need an answer to this one -- that the American public will be very angry with the media if they feel the media is choreographing any military action that may put our men and women in harm's way?

KURTZ: Yes, the media can be very careful in not reporting any national security details that might endanger the troops. But just being negative, just doing the ordinary criticism that the media do, I think, could bring a serious public backlash at a time like this.

ZAHN: All right, Howard Kurtz, as always good to see you.

KURTZ: Thanks, Paula.

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