Thursday, August 27, 2009

Final Speaker

Ralph Peters, former Army officer and accomplished author, is giving the final address of the Symposium. Feel free to follow along and ask questions.
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4 comments:

  1. AdministratorAugust 27, 2009 at 1:32 PM

    •“Who critiques the critics?” Mr. Peters said the media don’t police themselves.

    •How does a journalism degree give a reporter the right to question the actions of soldiers in the field?

    •Called Sy Hersh the greatest fiction writer in history. He cited Hersh’s bias when writing an article about GEN McCaffrey.

    •Journalists live and prosper off the deeds of others. “Without the deeds of other men and women, you have no story.” He likened journalists to parasites.

    •Once major news organizations establish a storyline, other journalists follow en mass.

    •“Why is a journalist’s life any more important than that of a Soldier?” Peters was questioning why it is such a big story when a journalist is wounded or killed while reporting from the battlefield.

    •The neighborhood gossip is the ancestor of the journalist.

    •“The finest war correspondent ever was William Russell.” Russell was a military correspondent for the London Times during the Civil War.

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  2. AdministratorAugust 27, 2009 at 1:45 PM

    •“The public doesn’t have a right to know if it undermines the war effort.” Peters was speaking about the often repeated phrase, “the public have a right know.”

    •The draft is what ultimately led to defeat in Vietnam—not the media. The media merely followed the public.

    •“Prisoners in the general population at Guantanamo were treated better than the average prisoner.”

    •Iconic reporters from WW II were “on the right side of the Constitution.” These reporters identified with Soldiers because they grew up with Soldiers and came from modest backgrounds. “They understood the people they were covering.”

    •Journalism became a hip profession during Vietnam. This distanced journalism from its blue/dirty white collar background.

    •Closing journalism schools would help save journalism.

    •The best way to become an enlightened journalist is to study history. “Journalists are lazy and they don’t do their homework.”—Peters speaking about bad journalists.

    •Journalists now write for other journalists and for prizes. “If you’re not willing to write for the busy person…you’re gonna lose audience.”

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  3. AdministratorAugust 27, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    •Peters said the piece that was missing from the Walter Reed story was the fact the installation was slated for closure, therefore, no money was allocated for maintenance and improvement.

    •Courage and confidence in the Marines and the U.S. Army allowed the Awakening to occur. “They had to know we were bad hombres.”

    •“Without a free press, democracy doesn’t work…with freedom comes responsibility. Journalists are not gods.”

    •“The Pat Tillman case was great for the media because the Army screwed it up…There have been plenty of things that have gone right.” “We only know the mistakes and errors.”

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  4. AdministratorAugust 27, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    Q&A—Ralph Peters

    •Should the Army maintain formal files on the media that classify their reporting traits? Peters: No, PAOs should keep track of reporters as part of their job.

    •What would it take to transform the media into a professional career field? Peters: Humility.

    •What oath would you recommend for the profession of journalism? Peters: “I will tell the truth.”

    •How did the culture change from WW II to Vietnam? Peters: The journalists were as confused as the rest of American society. The media reflected the “zeitgeist” of the country.

    •“The blogosphere is not journalism. It is the domain of hatred and spite.” “Anonymity is cowardice. A man and woman should be willing to stand behind what they write or say.”

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