Media
Media played a major role in the public’s opinion of the Vietnam War, influencing how the American people perceived what was occurring in Vietnam.
Growth of Media
Forms of media began to appear more frequently in households throughout the 1960’s. In the early sixties almost sixty million televisions existed within the United States, and about nine out of ten homes owned a television [1]. This made receiving information easier than ever, as videos could be viewed within the comforts of home. For the first time Americans at home were exposed to the atrocities of war. This came as a shock to the public. Graphic images were shown and people got a wake up call as to what was occurring overseas. Mutilation, destruction, and execution were all frequently shown. The reason for this was that as newer technologies came out, such as cameras and televisions, the government had no way in which to censor what was shown to the public [2]. Photographers were sent out to get the most shocking and impressive shots they could find, and unlike previous wars, the government was powerless to stop the photos and videos from flooding in.
Forms of media began to appear more frequently in households throughout the 1960’s. In the early sixties almost sixty million televisions existed within the United States, and about nine out of ten homes owned a television [1]. This made receiving information easier than ever, as videos could be viewed within the comforts of home. For the first time Americans at home were exposed to the atrocities of war. This came as a shock to the public. Graphic images were shown and people got a wake up call as to what was occurring overseas. Mutilation, destruction, and execution were all frequently shown. The reason for this was that as newer technologies came out, such as cameras and televisions, the government had no way in which to censor what was shown to the public [2]. Photographers were sent out to get the most shocking and impressive shots they could find, and unlike previous wars, the government was powerless to stop the photos and videos from flooding in.
Manipulation of Media
Media had a large effect on the Vietnam War itself. Public support plummeted after seeing footage and pictures from the war. Reporters choices of what to film would often be decided on what would give them the best ratings and viewers, most not whether it would help increase morale or show victory. In one battle of the Tet Offensive, over fourteen thousand North Vietnamese had been killed, with less than two hundred American and South Vietnamese deaths. However, reporters would focus their story on the loss of American life, not the fourteen thousand enemy soldiers that were defeated [3]. In many cases victories for America would be portrayed as losses. The U.S. government had no control over what was shown to the public, causing heavy anti-war protests throughout the country. News teams even edited footage and photos to show the worst of the war. One famous example was the execution of a Vietcong general by a South Vietnamese soldier. Although the film was silent, the NBC news added in the sound of a gunshot to footage, in order to purposely shock the viewers [4]. The story of who the Vietcong member was, and the fact he had butchered the soldier’s family was not included, causing many at home to believe that the South Vietnamese were no better than the North Vietnamese, making many begin to doubt the strength of our army and the legitimacy of our cause. The government ultimately blamed unchecked media for the loss of Vietnam.
Media had a large effect on the Vietnam War itself. Public support plummeted after seeing footage and pictures from the war. Reporters choices of what to film would often be decided on what would give them the best ratings and viewers, most not whether it would help increase morale or show victory. In one battle of the Tet Offensive, over fourteen thousand North Vietnamese had been killed, with less than two hundred American and South Vietnamese deaths. However, reporters would focus their story on the loss of American life, not the fourteen thousand enemy soldiers that were defeated [3]. In many cases victories for America would be portrayed as losses. The U.S. government had no control over what was shown to the public, causing heavy anti-war protests throughout the country. News teams even edited footage and photos to show the worst of the war. One famous example was the execution of a Vietcong general by a South Vietnamese soldier. Although the film was silent, the NBC news added in the sound of a gunshot to footage, in order to purposely shock the viewers [4]. The story of who the Vietcong member was, and the fact he had butchered the soldier’s family was not included, causing many at home to believe that the South Vietnamese were no better than the North Vietnamese, making many begin to doubt the strength of our army and the legitimacy of our cause. The government ultimately blamed unchecked media for the loss of Vietnam.
Government and Media
American’s at home felt betrayed by the government during the course of the war. News footage and photos showed the public that the United States was not invincible. When the Pentagon Papers were released, Americans learned that the government had been lying to them the throughout the war. Actual casualty rates were far higher than what the public had been lead to believe, and that many “victories” had also been fabricated [5]. In fact, the whole point of the Vietnam War was, according to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, not to help free South Vietnam from communism, but to prevent China from organizing “all of Asia” into a world power. The Pentagon Papers also revealed that the intense bombing of Cambodia and Laos were to escalate the war, and that seventy percent of why the war continued was so that the United States could avoid a “humiliating defeat” by the Vietcong [6]. Only ten percent of the United States cared about helping the South Vietnamese [7]. The final straw came when Americans learned of the My Lai Massacre. The government told the public that Charlie Company had successfully killed one hundred and twenty-eight Vietcong soldiers. However, America soon learned the truth of what happened, how there were no enemy soldiers, and that Charlie Company had instead raped, tortured and butchered nearly five hundred women and children [8].
American’s at home felt betrayed by the government during the course of the war. News footage and photos showed the public that the United States was not invincible. When the Pentagon Papers were released, Americans learned that the government had been lying to them the throughout the war. Actual casualty rates were far higher than what the public had been lead to believe, and that many “victories” had also been fabricated [5]. In fact, the whole point of the Vietnam War was, according to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, not to help free South Vietnam from communism, but to prevent China from organizing “all of Asia” into a world power. The Pentagon Papers also revealed that the intense bombing of Cambodia and Laos were to escalate the war, and that seventy percent of why the war continued was so that the United States could avoid a “humiliating defeat” by the Vietcong [6]. Only ten percent of the United States cared about helping the South Vietnamese [7]. The final straw came when Americans learned of the My Lai Massacre. The government told the public that Charlie Company had successfully killed one hundred and twenty-eight Vietcong soldiers. However, America soon learned the truth of what happened, how there were no enemy soldiers, and that Charlie Company had instead raped, tortured and butchered nearly five hundred women and children [8].
Lasting Effects
Americans at home were for the first time exposed to the full atrocities of war. While many events were misleading and portrayed in a negative light on purpose in order to gain more viewers, reporters also brought to light the lies that the government had been feeding its people. Americans began to harbor distrust of their government following the Vietnam war. Media caused America to eventually withdraw from the war due to massive lack of public support. The United States government eventually regained control of media, and no other war since has been as revealing as the Vietnam War.
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Americans at home were for the first time exposed to the full atrocities of war. While many events were misleading and portrayed in a negative light on purpose in order to gain more viewers, reporters also brought to light the lies that the government had been feeding its people. Americans began to harbor distrust of their government following the Vietnam war. Media caused America to eventually withdraw from the war due to massive lack of public support. The United States government eventually regained control of media, and no other war since has been as revealing as the Vietnam War.
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1. Physics Factbook “Number of Televisions in the US,” last modified 1998. http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2007/TamaraTamazashvili.shtml
2. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/
3. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/
4. Global Issues “Media, Propaganda and Vietnam,” last modified October 24, 2003. http://www.globalissues.org/article/402/media-propaganda-and-vietnam
5. Global Issues “Media, Propaganda and Vietnam,” last modified October 24, 2003. http://www.globalissues.org/article/402/media-propaganda-and-vietnam
6. The Vietnam War “Pentagon Papers,” last modified November 5, 2013. http://thevietnamwar.info/pentagon-papers/
7. The Vietnam War “Pentagon Papers,” last modified November 5, 2013. http://thevietnamwar.info/pentagon-papers/
8. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/
2. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/
3. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/
4. Global Issues “Media, Propaganda and Vietnam,” last modified October 24, 2003. http://www.globalissues.org/article/402/media-propaganda-and-vietnam
5. Global Issues “Media, Propaganda and Vietnam,” last modified October 24, 2003. http://www.globalissues.org/article/402/media-propaganda-and-vietnam
6. The Vietnam War “Pentagon Papers,” last modified November 5, 2013. http://thevietnamwar.info/pentagon-papers/
7. The Vietnam War “Pentagon Papers,” last modified November 5, 2013. http://thevietnamwar.info/pentagon-papers/
8. Thorodinn Wordpress “Media and the Vietnam War, Truthful or Deceptive,” last modified March 26, 2012. http://thorodinn.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-media-and-the-vietnam-war-truthful-or-deceptive/