Trade Association "Military Reporters and Editors" Worries About Backlash: May 25, 2004

"...those who blame the Post and other newspapers for publishing photos -- instead of questioning the military's actions in Iraq -- risk crippling the press's power at a time when the nation is polarized. "People are filtering this through their political views...People ought to be thinking about what is the truth." [...] the backlash against journalists not only blocks the truth of the war, but makes true press coverage more difficult. [...] "For some, particularly Republicans, it takes on a political edge. They see it as a political story instead of a news story." [...] "We were the enemy then when we covered anything negative...I think the backlash is stronger this time because it is an election year and the Republicans see the war as more of a bite on them." [...] As public backlash grows against the press for reporting the growing problems in Iraq, Christenson fears the growing trust between the military and the press will be ruined. "With people saying to us, 'you are losing the war,' before long, everything we built will be destroyed. But this war will not be won or lost on any story that is written," he added. "It will be on what happens in Iraq."
[Joe Strupp in Editor and Publisher]