MILITARY MEDIA RELATION IN TODAY’S WARFARE
The people thinking hardest about warfare in the
future know that some of the most important combat
of tomorrow will take place on the media battlefield.
- Tofflers.
1
INTRODUCTION
The number of news organisations and their means to gather, process and
disseminate information in any armed conflict is increasing exponentially. From the
147 reporters who accompanied the D – day invasion in World War – II, to the 1300
reporters in Kuwaiti theatre in the Desert Storm the ability and the desire of the news
media to cover military operations has come a long way.
Because of technological advancements power of the media is increasing
rapidly. Future warfare will be fought in the unforgiving glare of public TV. Media will
aggressively pursue the Armed Forces in any conflict and report it back by print, radio
or TV. Media’s presence will have a great impact on the commander and their
planners in future operations. The media also will shape the public opinion on the
conflict with real time reporting. Military needs the media to tell the military story to
retain public support. Public support is crucial to success of military operations. The
military must address the military – media relationship.
Military’s requirement of operational security, surprise and safety and media’s
requirement of open and timely reporting may put the military and the media at odds
with each others. Media will have an important role in all future military operations.
Both military and media must realise this fact and prepare accordingly. Throughout
this article “ media ” will include print (newspaper, magazine) and film (photographs,
newsreels and video) journalists.
EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS ON MEDIA
Risks to military operations from instant reporting are not contrived.
Communication satellite technology has eliminated a principal
means by which the military was able to monitor and control the flow
of news from the battlefield. Civilian – based reconnaissance
systems will soon give the media unencumbered access to the
battlefield. Any control over what journalised report from future war
zones must be self imposed.
- Colonel Alan B Campen
The First Information War.
2
Technology has not only changed the nature of modern warfare but also how
media covers warfare. The decreasing cost of communications and an explosion of
media outlets means more media coverage of military operations. During the Gulf
War CNN did broadcast live television from Iraq’s capital while under attack. Future
