Freedom of the Media

     As usual, we welcome the May issue of the World Press Review, which features an editorial by its very able editor Larry Martz entitled "The world´s journalists under fire. Learning to Fight Back." His account of the struggle of the press against censorship in many countries deserves our unreserved approval.
     Nevertheless, the Kosovo affair is making people wonder about the 500 (!) foreign journalists in Belgrade, and more precisely about the TV journalists. They have given Milosevich an extraordinary opportunity to spread his propaganda. They protested when allied bombing deprived them of this vehicle. The argument that Americans know propaganda when they see it is only half-true. Tell a lie often enought and people will believe it.
     We wonder about their motives. Is it the legitimate one of providing information or simply getting a scoop? The case of Ron Hatchet of the Center for International Studies of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas is relevant. Neither he or his university were widely known. They are delighted to have been put on the map. His trip to Belgrade was paid for by a Serbian American businessman, obviously wishing to promote the Serb cause. This raises the question as to where the loyalty of Serbs in the diaspora lies. While some may be willing to face the facts, they remain silent; the others are all hostile to criticism of Serbia.
     In the days of Hitler and Goebbels, would Western TV journalists have been put to this use? Would one have said "Hitler was very gracious and gave us coffee"?

Ronald Hilton - 04/25/99

More on Freedom of the Media

     The memo on the abuse of TV by Western journalists in Belgrade has brought quite a response. Tim Brown recalls similar abuses by Father Coughlin. John Wonder calls attention to the economic angle:
     "You are not considering the economic angle. These companies, after all, must invest millions of dollars in moving "star" commentators, cameras, crews to a certain area. We cannot expect them to do anything but "do it to death" and to show "pitchers", while the public, in many instances, has the thickest of hides for tedious repetition."
     My comment: C-SPAN has, as usual been doing a superb job, covering the Kosovo crisis and the NATO meeting in Washington this weekend, but it too has ben rebroadcasting Serbian TV "news," giving Milosevich an important audience.

Ronald Hilton - 04/26/99