Government, Media, Censorship and Terrorism †Perhaps We Can’t Handle t

Government, Media, Censorship and Terrorism – Perhaps We Can’t Handle the Truth Government and media influencing each other is a tender ethical situation. Initially, it seems simply appalling that any government would either censor or use its media as a tool, but considering the possible benefits of such acts makes the issue more complex. What if censorship saves lives? What if manipulating the media brings a resolution to a conflict? Wartime especially brings these questions to the forefront. When peoples lives are at stake, often standard rules of morality must either be reconsidered or suspended. Wartime is also the only situation in which the government could get the support of such practices from a constituency with a free press. Practiced responsibly, censorship and manipulation can be quite effective. Although, there is always the legitimate fear of the slippery slope. First, I would like to examine media manipulation. In the United States, in accordance to our press tradition, this is seen as an absolute travesty. No self-respecting journalist w...