By Orpheus Perera

Is a new program launched by Adadderana. During the first program, ex-Police Spokesperson Rohana raised a good question about how western journalist reported incidents in Brussels and Paris compared with how such incidents, that take place in Sri Lanka were reported worldwide.

Only few of Sri Lankan people know that the world media from USA to Australia via Europe are owned by the same group of people. About a year ago, BBC  interviewed American and British journalist, which was broadcasted in the middle of the night(10 years after Iraq war), when few people were watching the TV.

Both the US and British journalist said the similar stories. They were advised by the media bosses not to report or say anything, that could demoralize the soldiers, fighting for US interests.

Thankfully, Sri Lankan journalist restrained them-self  from doing the same, during the war against the terrorist  army, except a certain party newspaper, a Leader”. Even some opposition(Then) members made some remarks to demoralize our soldiers.

The following report is quoted from a report from CONTEXT” under the heading  Controlling the Media in Iraq War”

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In 2003, nearly 600 journalists working for news agencies from around the world traveled alongside U.S. and coalition forces as they invaded Iraq. The Pentagon’s embedded journalists program allowed reporters for the first time to attach themselves to military units. While Bush Administration officials hailed it for its intimate access to soldiers’ lives, media watchdogs criticized its often restrictive nature and publicly worried reporters would do little more than serve up rosy stories about soldiers’ courage and homesickness.

In 2002, as the specter of conflict with Iraq began to loom larger, Pentagon officials announced a week-long Embed Boot Camp” for journalists hoping to participate in the program. Reporters were outfitted with Kevlar helmets and military garb, slept in barracks bunks, and ate military grub in the mess hall aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Marines trained them in military jargon, tactical marches, direct fire, nuclear-biological-chemical attacks, and combat first aid.

Critics also argued the embedding program was essential to the administration’s attempt to build popular support for the war in Iraq. Several influential members of the Pentagon leadership and the administration believed the media contributed to defeat in the Vietnam War by demoralizing the American public with coverage of atrocities and seemingly futile guerilla warfare. They hoped to avoid a similar result in Iraq by limiting journalists’ coverage of darker stories on combat, the deaths of Iraqi civilians, and property damage. As media commentator Marvin Kalb noted, the embedding program was part of the massive, White House-run strategy to sell…the American mission in this war.”

While anecdotal examples of the worst excesses of embedded reporters abound, only a few studies have systematically considered news coverage by embedded reporters. Those studies show the program provided reporters with an insider’s view of the military experience, but also essentially blocked them from providing much coverage of the Iraqi experience of the war.

Perhaps more significantly, embedded reporters were forced to sign a contract and agree to the ground rules”—allow their reports to be reviewed by military officials prior to release, to be escorted at all times by military personnel, and to allow the government to dismiss them at any time for any reason.

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Iraqi journalist could never reach the world media. Only one Iraqi journalist through his shoe at George W Bush at a press conference in Iraq after the war.

Orpheus Perera