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Prince Harry's coming home, but is the media to blame?

  2. abbym0308
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The news blackout about Prince Harry's service in Afghanistan for more than two months was broken yesterday when the story appeared on the Drudge Report. The Ministry of Defense and the head of the British Army are furious and have condemned the publication because it breaks an agreement with the media to keep his deployment quiet in the interest of safety. Last year, there was such an outbreak of excitement and concern over the possibility of sending the Prince to Iraq that they decided to send him to Afghanistan secretly. And the media were cooperating by not reporting on his whereabouts until recently.

"It is thought the source for the Drudge Report article was a story printed last month in an Australian women's magazine, New Idea." But the Drudge Report, famous for breaking the Monica Lewinsky scandal, picked it up and quickly caught the attention of the world.

So, do you think that the Drudge Report made a mistake in bringing light to the fact that Prince Harry is in Afghanistan? Should we know if the Prince is fighting a war instead of staying home to keep up with his usual shenanigans?
abbym0308

23 responses // Prince Harry's coming home, but is the media to blame?

  • http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/02/28/r...
    Here's an interesting video from CNN addressing the question of whether this story should have been broken and run. Media ethics and how they translate into the realm of the web. Watch at the link. What do you think?
    abbym0308
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20...
    Here's the story on his immediate withdrawl from Afghanistan. Generals fear that with the worldwide media coverage poses a threat to the safety of the Prince and his fellow troops.

    Harry will no doubt be greatly disappointed as he has been quoted as saying it's the most normal he's ever felt, being able to fight for his country and live outside the media spotlight.
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/29/military.monar...
    abbym0308
  • Not really, everybody knew he was going somewhere.

    Honestly if I were a soldier, I wouldn't want to be in the same company as such a high profile target. Plus, with the very distinctive red hair......
    thedez
  • I'm glad he's out of there. Now he can get back in my bed.
    anidee
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/
    In a BBC Editor's Blog, Jon Stewart discusses how UK media went about agreeing a deal to withhold information on Harry's deployment in return for press materials, exclusive film coverage as well as interviews an photos, before, during and after his service.

    But speaking of the leak, Jon Stewart revealed:
    "In truth, the surprise is that the agreement lasted so long. We - and the other UK broadcasters - were clear that we would not report his deployment. But nor would we deceive our audiences."
    mattbrawn
  • Yes, of course, the media is to blame. Obviously, he would've been able to finish out his tour if the blackout had held. With regards to ethics (Should have it been done?): No. What "story" would they have gotten? Last time, Harry wasn't allowed to serve in Iraq due to excessive media attention so there was nothing to cover. What harm did it cause? If anything, the footage of him in Afghanistan would've helped raised the profile of the fight against the Taleban, a largely forgotten war.

    I wish, though, there would be *equal* coverage of civilians. We need to humanize both Afghans and Iraqis instead of just showing explosives on supposed targets.
    Jackstowne
  • the media needs to shut its trap on things like this.

    like when we first went to Iraq and Geraldo Rivera gave the upcoming operation away on live tv, going so far as to draw a map in the sand.

    the media with these kinds of idiotic gestures, giving information away etc. puts soldiers at more risk than they need to be.

    http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/31/sprj.irq.rive....
    AswegoAsdego
  • As a former journalist and Drudge enthusiast, I was thoroughly disappointed with his leak. Not only because he did it but because he thought he was the first to leak the story--HA!! And it certainly backfired didn't it Matt? How big does your ego need to be or did you think your star was tarnished and needed to get it back??

    It's irresponsible reporting and whether you agree with the war or not--we are at war. Thank God you weren't reporting during WW2 or none of us would be here today, certainly not Drudge.....
    Suze21
  • When you are an anonymous cog in the media machine, telling a secret is like water off a duck's back.
    stephenthomson
  • ps. they're drinking Aquafina in Afghanistan? I hope they're at least recycling.
    stephenthomson
  • It's crazy but believe it or not there are folks in the Middle East that don't like westerners and would consider Prince Harry a pretty nice target. Of course knowing where he is will only make it that much easier...
    devo64
  • suze21, they did report on ww2. in fact, they had reporters embedded in the pacific with the troops to take pictures and write to make the war palatable to the american public, even though they suffered tremendously in the pacific war.

    media shouldn't shut up about the war. how else would we have known about what was really going on in vietnam? the vivid pictures and the non-biased account of indiscriminate civilian slaughter is what got our society to rethink the whole thing. so, media should keep reporting.

    why should we react any different that the prince is at war and not flinch for the other brave young men and women that are there? because he's royally rich?

    i respect the prince for serving there. i agree how that could really rouse the pride of the british to know that their own prince is willing to sacrifice for the cause of his queen (grannie) and country. they shouldn't have pulled him out. they're all in no less danger.
    pressrecord
  • pressrecord, I know that they reported in WW2, reporters were embedded like Cronkite, Reasoner etc., but they had to submit their stories to the censors they couldn't willy nilly write what they wanted. ;-)
    Suze21
  • Our need to know should not have been more important than his need to serve. Shame on Drudge.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • I don't blame Drudge.

    That's too much credit for Drudge, whom I wouldn't trust to sit correctly on a toilet seat. Think about it. This story was deliberately leaked to the one US media sieve the brotherhood of global propogandists all knew would gladly strain the crap first.

    Furthermore, wanting to serve the same duty as any normal soldier and being willing to take a bullet to do it in the uniform of crown and country can become two different things on the battle field. Granny served as a mechanic and a truck driver in WW2. If Harry had really wanted to do this, he would have stayed right there. How convenient, this leak.
    96thdayofrage
  • Yea it makes no sence, why would they do that, but you know whatever I guess they'll settle it with the media calmly lol.
    Kidryu16
  • well put MM
    stephenthomson
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20...
    Following the news of Harry's deployment, Taliban insurgents have threatened to step up attacks on British forces in the region.

    A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Harry's presence in Helmand Province meant that the Royal Family had joined in the “aggression against Muslims”.

    “Prince Harry’s presence in Afghanistan encourages our fighters to launch more attacks on British forces. We think Prince Harry has been sent to Afghanistan only to boost the sagging morale of the British forces which are in serious trouble. For us he is just part of occupation forces. Instead of killing innocent people, the Prince should try to influence the British government to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.”

    What's your thoughts on the Taliban's response?
    mattbrawn
  • after thinking about it some more, i realized that the leak does put him and his squad in more danger since killing him would really really upset so many people especially in the west, a goal the taliban would want to accomplish. it was irresponsible for them to leak it so soon. and for what?

    but, i also wish there was accountability in the actions of the military in an occupation. i would want to know if the military is senselessly and indiscriminately abusing the people of the country being occupied so that i can make an intelligent opinion and reaction to news. there should be some sort of balance between media reporting and sensationalizing war by keeping things quiet.

    even though i don't agree with war and imperialism in general, i respect the soldiers who have to go and fight mindless of whether they agree or not. does anyone feel me on this?
    pressrecord
  • Seems pretty convenient. Harry is seen as a hero, the royal family gets a boost of public support. They are also seen as willing to let such a "valuable" member of the public to serve in public duty, and now hes coming back safe and sound sooner than he should be.

    Awfully convenient.

    *Sun Headline* "Hero Harry returns, royals kick ass"
    Social_Fuzz
  • I think Harry really wanted to be one of the guys for a while. It's a shame it didn't last longer.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • fuck him let him die like my friends have
    LethanoWun
  • LethanoWun, Why? He didn't do anything to you. He wanted to serve, he can't now because it would be too dangerous for the people he served with. He tried to go twice, did you?
    Marilynn_Murray

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