News War
by Josh Marks,
PBS' excellent newsmagazine "Frontline" is currently
airing a special four-part investigative series called "News War" and
it is about as timely and compelling as anything you will see on television
this year. Veteran correspondent Lowell Bergman examines the state of the news
media in 2007 and takes a critical look at where journalism is headed.
Parts one and two recently aired and they are both available to view on the
"Frontline" website at www.pbs.org/frontline
. The first two episodes put into
context the confrontations between the press and the Bush administration since
the president took office, and the thin line between the freedom of the press
and national security concerns in our post-9/11 world.
Part three is a must-watch for BrooWaha contributors
and anyone involved in citizen journalism. It is titled "What's happening
to the News" and examines the challenges facing traditional media and the
rise in citizen journalism. Bergman takes viewers into the L.A. Times newsroom
to witness the major shakeups going on downtown. It airs on February 27 and
will be available to watch online by the next morning if you miss it.
Part four is called "Stories from a Small Planet" and airs on March
27. The final hour of the series takes a look at global media, particularly in
the Arab world, and its role in both helping and hurting relations between
Islam and the West.
"Frontline" is journalism at its finest and should be commended for
turning the lens on itself and the entire journalism profession in a balanced
and informative report on the news war.