For months, headlines like “Bush Signals: The Time to Act is Now” and “Italy Braces for Anti-War Clashes” have filled the airwaves and news pages on a daily basis.
The possibility of a war with Iraq has been the primary media focus since President George Bush first expressed his desire to expel Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.
Yet, according to at least one UCLA communications studies professor, the fact that many people are already apathetic to Iraq coverage – even before war has begun – may be a sign of oversaturation by the media on issues concerning the Middle East.
“When I get tired of an issue, I no longer pay attention to it. This happened some time ago with the possibility of war with Iraq. Every day there are multiple articles in the papers on this, but I never read any of them,” said Michael Suman, a communications studies professor teaching “Introduction to Communications” this quarter.
Even with what some consider incessant coverage, other communications studies professors at UCLA maintain that the media and its reports have been both responsible in nature and important in keeping the public informed.
Tim Groeling, a professor who is teaching “Political Communication” this quarter, believes that while the stories about possible war with Iraq have been numerous, they have also been justified. Such coverage ensures that the public realizes the seriousness of such an event, he said.
“I don’t think they’ve overdone the coverage at all. Invading Iraq represents a shift in our foreign policy that has far-reaching consequences,” Groeling said, suggesting that the intense media scrutiny of the situation in Iraq has also affected the actions of the key players involved in the conflict.
Criticisms of Bush’s actions may have in part led him to rethink his strategy on invasion and integrate the United Nations in his attempts at Hussein’s ouster, he said.
Political science professor Matthew Baum, who specializes in the affects of the media on politics, also believes that the media coverage has been necessary and understandable, considering that the media is under pressure to break stories rather than simply to follow them.
“I don’t think there are too many bigger issues to be focusing on. The media takes the lead of the government, which is focusing almost exclusively on Iraq now,” he said.
Baum contends that informing the public about Iraq gives them the opportunity to form fact-based opinions and learn about the issues impartially. As a result, what some consider “excessive” reporting may actually be necessary for balanced coverage.
While it may now seem to some that the Iraq coverage is excessive, if it alienates readers and viewers enough to hurt ratings it will probably lessen.
“I think that turning viewers off a subject is self-correcting: when ratings decline, TV (and other media outlets) will change the subject,” Groeling said.
However, if war with Iraq does occur, these complaints will likely subside.
“Wait until the war starts, (opinions) will change,” Baum said.
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