John Burns from the New York Times is beginning his presenation momentarily. Please feel free to post any questions to Mr. Burns on this blog.
To view a reaction to Bill Kurtis' keynote presentation yesterday, click here.
Throughout the day, the contents of this blog will be migrated to the CAC CSI Blog, which is now up and running. You can leave comments and interact here or visit the CAC Blog.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Executive Summary: Day One of CSI Symposium
Keynote speaker
Mr. Bill Kurtis, CEO of Kurtis Productions, spoke to symposium attendees and CGSC Classes 09-02 and 10-01 on his experiences as a correspondent from 1966 to the present. The majority of his speech addressed his experience in reporting on the effects of Agent Orange on American Soldiers and the Vietnam landscape, although he covered a number of related issues such as the fall of Saigon. During the question and answer session, Mr. Kurtis fielded questions about the impact of technology on the press and objectivity of the press in wartime. When asked how the military could best work with the media community, Mr. Kurtis offered two points, “Utilize the local media,” and “Don’t lose the trust of the media, because it’s impossible to get back.”
Panel Session 1: Forging a Relationship: The Army and the Media
Moderated by Dr. Don Wright (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “A Horrible Fascination: The Military and the Media” by Mr. Frederick Chiaventone, noted historical novelist, and “Ethics and Embedded Journalists: Beyond Boundaries of Industry Induced Guidelines on Objectivity and Balance” by Mr. Ron Martz, former embedded reporter and journalism instructor. Mr. Chiaventone presented a general overview of the military-media relationship from the nineteenth century with the intent of highlighting the examples of both antipathy and cooperation between the two institutions. Mr. Martz provided personal insights from serving as an embedded reporter in Iraq as well as teaching journalism to undergraduates. A lively discussion session focused on the issues of ethics in wartime reporting and the decisions that reporters must make in the process of covering the story. Mr. Martz offered his personal observation that complete objectivity was not possible, that human perception is always influenced by a specific viewpoint and experience.
Panel Session 2: The Philippines and the First World War
Moderated by MAJ Clay Mountcastle (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “Its Officers did not Forget: The Philippine War, the Press, and the Pre-World War I Army,” by Dr. Thomas Bruscino, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and “Conflicts of Interest: Media Ethics and the First World War” by Mr. Jared Tracey, Airborne and Special Operations Museum historian. Dr. Bruscino’s presentation highlighted the controversies surrounding harsh counterguerrilla methods employed by U.S. Soldiers in the Philippines and the media outrage that ensued. Mr. Tracey’s paper outlined the evolution of military censorship during WWI and the reaction of military officers. Both presentations underscored the fact that, before the event of WWII, the military and the media were often at odds. The short question and answer period focused on the partisan nature of the print media at the turn of the century.
Panel Session 3: The Vietnam War
Moderated by LTC Scott Farquhar (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “Generals Westmoreland and Abrams Meet the Press: What Went Right and What Went Wrong with Media Relations in Vietnam,” by Dr. William Hammond, Center of Military History and “The Viet Cong Assault on the US Embassy at Tet and the Military Media Controversy it Launched” by Mr. Donald North, independent journalist. This session was attended by 104 personnel. Dr. Hammond covered the varied experiences of commanders in Vietnam in dealing with the press. Mr. North’s paper illustrated the strong impact of Tet on the media coverage of the war and the public sentiment. Discussion focused on the strong and lasting effects of personal rifts between reporters and military figures during Vietnam. During the day, CSI conducted two presentations of its Virtual Staff Ride, using the Operation Anaconda scenario. Both presentations were well received by the varied audience that attended. Mr. Kurtis was especially taken with the presentation.
Mr. Bill Kurtis, CEO of Kurtis Productions, spoke to symposium attendees and CGSC Classes 09-02 and 10-01 on his experiences as a correspondent from 1966 to the present. The majority of his speech addressed his experience in reporting on the effects of Agent Orange on American Soldiers and the Vietnam landscape, although he covered a number of related issues such as the fall of Saigon. During the question and answer session, Mr. Kurtis fielded questions about the impact of technology on the press and objectivity of the press in wartime. When asked how the military could best work with the media community, Mr. Kurtis offered two points, “Utilize the local media,” and “Don’t lose the trust of the media, because it’s impossible to get back.”
Panel Session 1: Forging a Relationship: The Army and the Media
Moderated by Dr. Don Wright (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “A Horrible Fascination: The Military and the Media” by Mr. Frederick Chiaventone, noted historical novelist, and “Ethics and Embedded Journalists: Beyond Boundaries of Industry Induced Guidelines on Objectivity and Balance” by Mr. Ron Martz, former embedded reporter and journalism instructor. Mr. Chiaventone presented a general overview of the military-media relationship from the nineteenth century with the intent of highlighting the examples of both antipathy and cooperation between the two institutions. Mr. Martz provided personal insights from serving as an embedded reporter in Iraq as well as teaching journalism to undergraduates. A lively discussion session focused on the issues of ethics in wartime reporting and the decisions that reporters must make in the process of covering the story. Mr. Martz offered his personal observation that complete objectivity was not possible, that human perception is always influenced by a specific viewpoint and experience.
Panel Session 2: The Philippines and the First World War
Moderated by MAJ Clay Mountcastle (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “Its Officers did not Forget: The Philippine War, the Press, and the Pre-World War I Army,” by Dr. Thomas Bruscino, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and “Conflicts of Interest: Media Ethics and the First World War” by Mr. Jared Tracey, Airborne and Special Operations Museum historian. Dr. Bruscino’s presentation highlighted the controversies surrounding harsh counterguerrilla methods employed by U.S. Soldiers in the Philippines and the media outrage that ensued. Mr. Tracey’s paper outlined the evolution of military censorship during WWI and the reaction of military officers. Both presentations underscored the fact that, before the event of WWII, the military and the media were often at odds. The short question and answer period focused on the partisan nature of the print media at the turn of the century.
Panel Session 3: The Vietnam War
Moderated by LTC Scott Farquhar (CSI), the panel consisted of two papers, “Generals Westmoreland and Abrams Meet the Press: What Went Right and What Went Wrong with Media Relations in Vietnam,” by Dr. William Hammond, Center of Military History and “The Viet Cong Assault on the US Embassy at Tet and the Military Media Controversy it Launched” by Mr. Donald North, independent journalist. This session was attended by 104 personnel. Dr. Hammond covered the varied experiences of commanders in Vietnam in dealing with the press. Mr. North’s paper illustrated the strong impact of Tet on the media coverage of the war and the public sentiment. Discussion focused on the strong and lasting effects of personal rifts between reporters and military figures during Vietnam. During the day, CSI conducted two presentations of its Virtual Staff Ride, using the Operation Anaconda scenario. Both presentations were well received by the varied audience that attended. Mr. Kurtis was especially taken with the presentation.
Panel Three: The Vietnam War
The final panel of the day discusses the Vietnam War and the media. Here are the speakers and their topics:
Generals Westmoreland and Abrams Meet the Press: What Went Right and What Went Wrong with Media Relations in Vietnam--Dr. William Hammond
The Viet Cong Assault on the U.S. Embassy at Tet and the Military Media Controversy It Launched--Mr. Donald North
Generals Westmoreland and Abrams Meet the Press: What Went Right and What Went Wrong with Media Relations in Vietnam--Dr. William Hammond
The Viet Cong Assault on the U.S. Embassy at Tet and the Military Media Controversy It Launched--Mr. Donald North
Panel Two: The Philippines and the First World War
The second panel is just starting. Here's the agenda:
It's Officers Did Not Forget: The Philippine War, the Press, and the Pre-World War I Army--Dr. Thomas Bruscino
Conflicts of Interest: Media Ethics and the First World War--Mr. Jared Tracy
We welcome your questions for the panelists.
It's Officers Did Not Forget: The Philippine War, the Press, and the Pre-World War I Army--Dr. Thomas Bruscino
Conflicts of Interest: Media Ethics and the First World War--Mr. Jared Tracy
We welcome your questions for the panelists.
Panel One: Forging a Relationship: The Army and the Media
Two speakers are presenting and taking questions. Feel free to pose a question on this blog and the panelists will respond.
A Horrible Fascination: The Military and the Media--Mr. Frederick Chiaventone
Ethics and Embedded Journalists: Beyond Boundaries of Industry Induced Guidelines on Objectivity and Balance--Mr. Ron Martz
A Horrible Fascination: The Military and the Media--Mr. Frederick Chiaventone
Ethics and Embedded Journalists: Beyond Boundaries of Industry Induced Guidelines on Objectivity and Balance--Mr. Ron Martz
Keynote Address
Mr. Bill Kurtis, former journalist, gave the keynote address. He spoke to the entire Command and General Staff College student body. Kurtis focused on his experiences as a reporter during and after the Vietnam War. He delivered some of his most salient points during the questiona and answer session.
Regarding the Tet offensive, Kurtis remarked, "Once you lose the trust of the media, you're dead." He was elaborating on Walter Cronkite's stance against the Vietnam War in the wake of Tet. Kurtis also spoke about the dichotomy between events on the ground in Vietnam and the official press briefings.
Here are a few key points from the Q&A session:
Regarding the Tet offensive, Kurtis remarked, "Once you lose the trust of the media, you're dead." He was elaborating on Walter Cronkite's stance against the Vietnam War in the wake of Tet. Kurtis also spoke about the dichotomy between events on the ground in Vietnam and the official press briefings.
Here are a few key points from the Q&A session:
- Future journalists must be computer savvy. They will have to edit video, compose stories and engage new media.
- Bloggers don't have traditional editorial checks, nor do they have to account for their work like mainstream media does.
- News has skewed towards opinion. The immediacy of today's reporting compromises balance.
- In a challenging media environment, Soldiers can tell their story by engaging local media and forming relationships. At the same time, reporting Iraq and Afghanistan is more difficult than ever because of how long the wars have lasted and the American public is losing patience.
Opening Remarks
Lieutenant General William Caldwell, Commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, provided comments to begin the Symposium. These are a few of his relevant points:
- Both the military and the media safeguard the Constitution
- The military must move beyond "active engagement" with the media, characterized by appreciation of each others' culture to a "culture of engagement." Understanding is the bedrock of this improved relationship.
- Military-media tension is natural and will continue in the future.
Caldwell emphasized the need for historical understanding by paraphrasing Winston Churchill:
You can only look as far into the future as you are able to see into the past.
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