To: MSNBC and Brian Williams
Brian Williams: Report on war. Don't glorify it.
Your job is to cover war and its costs, not to simply embrace it.
Why is this important?
As Trump launched thousand-pound missiles into Syria, viewers of cable news were greeted by a parade of retired colonels and generals celebrating the attack while anchors swooned over Trump and images of deadly weapons. Brian Williams called the missiles beautiful three times in 30 seconds. Fareed Zakaria described the missile launch as the moment when Trump "became the President of the United States."
Little attention was paid to the dire consequences of recent U.S. military engagement in Yemen or Iraq--or the current and dire refugee crisis in Syria. Trump's motives were generally accepted as humanitarian, despite his not only barring Syrian refugees from this country, but criticizing other countries for accepting them.
Useful coverage of the situation in Syria would include covering not only the sight of our missiles sailing through the air, but attention to:
- the largest refugee crisis since WWII and Trump's attempt to block Syrian families from entering the U.S.
- actual humanitarian support for Syrians--like the $6 Billion in aid committed by European nations 2 days before the bombing
- covering the human impact of Trump's proposed decimation of the foreign aid and State Department budgets
Responsible reporting would also include covering the impact of missiles after they fall to earth--when they are anything but beautiful.
MSNBC must immediately direct their producers, anchors, and journalists to cover both the conflict in Syria and all U.S. military action with the rigor and integrity they deserve by diversifying the viewpoints presented, and demanding sharper and more comprehensive analysis from their anchors and journalists.
Little attention was paid to the dire consequences of recent U.S. military engagement in Yemen or Iraq--or the current and dire refugee crisis in Syria. Trump's motives were generally accepted as humanitarian, despite his not only barring Syrian refugees from this country, but criticizing other countries for accepting them.
Useful coverage of the situation in Syria would include covering not only the sight of our missiles sailing through the air, but attention to:
- the largest refugee crisis since WWII and Trump's attempt to block Syrian families from entering the U.S.
- actual humanitarian support for Syrians--like the $6 Billion in aid committed by European nations 2 days before the bombing
- covering the human impact of Trump's proposed decimation of the foreign aid and State Department budgets
Responsible reporting would also include covering the impact of missiles after they fall to earth--when they are anything but beautiful.
MSNBC must immediately direct their producers, anchors, and journalists to cover both the conflict in Syria and all U.S. military action with the rigor and integrity they deserve by diversifying the viewpoints presented, and demanding sharper and more comprehensive analysis from their anchors and journalists.