A new book by social scientists at the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds has praised the way UK newspapers and broadcasters report war and conflict.
However, the researchers - who focused mainly on the Iraq war - say more can be done to ensure critics of the Government line are given a voice in the mainstream news media. They single out Channel Four News as being the most likely TV news channel to produce coverage of the Iraq invasion that was largely independent of the official government line. But more generally, the British press continues to display an admirably wide range of coverage which includes a strongly anti-war element, they say. Reports on Iraq war civilian casualties, for example, were one of the areas of coverage that tended to attract critical reporting, even from predominantly pro-war newspapers. "Our study has shown that some parts of the UK media can be proud of its record on war reporting," said project leader Dr Piers Robinson from The University of Manchester. "Its vibrancy is down to a culture of independent thinking, professional autonomy as well as the nationally-based, commercial and highly competitive nature of its press. "In part because it is partisan and opinionated, there are higher degrees of independent journalism than is often found in other countries, particularly the US." However, the study showed a link between embedded reporters in combat units and lower levels of objectivity in reporting.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
