Vietnam on Television

A Precedence in War

Broadcasting and Public

Opinion Influence

Vietnam: “The Television War”

Before Television: War News Broadcast Via Radio Transmission

Testing the Waters in the Korean War

War Broadcasting via Television

• Censorship prevalent in WWII and The Korean War was virtually non-existent in Vietnam.

• With all the new technology, military officials could not imagine censoring the news

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJPZYfOOrb8

Equipment, Guts, and Location

• The Saigon news bureau was 3rd largest behind NY and Washington during most of the war

• 9 network personnel died and many more were wounded by the wars’ end filming the sought after “bang-bang” footage.

The War Itself• U.S. Troops Committed in 1960 and Exponentially

multiplied by 1962• Attempt to prevent the Communist NLF and Viet-

Cong takeover of South Vietnam• All Troops withdrawn by Johnson administration by

1975

Johnson’s Unwinnable War

Imagery, Gatekeeping, and Audience Imagery, Gatekeeping, and Audience PerceptionPerception

Transmission of FootageTransmission of Footage• Satellite was possible, but too expensiveSatellite was possible, but too expensive• Cans of film were flown to New YorkCans of film were flown to New York• Footage was broadcast a few days laterFootage was broadcast a few days later• Footage from Tet Offensive: flown to Tokyo, Footage from Tet Offensive: flown to Tokyo,

fed to NY by satellitefed to NY by satellite• Action seen on TV was background footage, Action seen on TV was background footage,

seemingly successful combatseemingly successful combat

Nightly News ExpandsNightly News Expands

• 1963: CBS & NBC expand evening time slot 1963: CBS & NBC expand evening time slot from 15 to 30 minutesfrom 15 to 30 minutes

• More profitMore profit• 1965: more reporters working in Vietnam1965: more reporters working in Vietnam• 1967: ABC follows suit, expands to 30 minutes1967: ABC follows suit, expands to 30 minutes

ProductionProduction• News crews News crews

dependent on dependent on government and government and military access and military access and sourcessources

• Less action = staged Less action = staged violence for TVviolence for TV

• Night filming Night filming impossibleimpossible

• Crews must travel for Crews must travel for good footage, rely on good footage, rely on military transportationmilitary transportation

Famous NamesFamous Names• Correspondents and anchors gain experienceCorrespondents and anchors gain experience• Peter Jennings, Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Peter Jennings, Dan Rather, Mike Wallace,

Walter CronkiteWalter Cronkite• Footage produced and narrated evolved Footage produced and narrated evolved

according to gatekeeping measures taken by according to gatekeeping measures taken by networks and governmentnetworks and government

To Broadcast or To Broadcast or NotNot to Broadcast? to Broadcast?

• Networks wary of broadcasting negative Networks wary of broadcasting negative imagesimages

• Subject to FCC Subject to FCC • Subject to military and administration Subject to military and administration

representatives’ ordersrepresentatives’ orders• Private policies on releasing certain footagePrivate policies on releasing certain footage• 1968: 24% of all footage from Southeast Asia 1968: 24% of all footage from Southeast Asia

showed images of dead or woundedshowed images of dead or wounded

Too Close for Too Close for ComfortComfort

• Seattle Times, May 11, Seattle Times, May 11, 19671967

• Mrs. Morrow watching Mrs. Morrow watching TV, war footageTV, war footage

• Sees son, Albert Sees son, Albert Landon MorrowLandon Morrow

• He steps forward, and He steps forward, and *BOOM**BOOM*, an explosion, an explosion

• 24 hours later she 24 hours later she receives the call from receives the call from military authoritiesmilitary authorities

More graphic footageMore graphic footage

• Generic images of brave Americans subsideGeneric images of brave Americans subside• More injury, death, hopelessness broadcastMore injury, death, hopelessness broadcast• Efforts in Vietnam for nothing?Efforts in Vietnam for nothing?• NBC: February 2, 1968:NBC: February 2, 1968:– Tet OffensiveTet Offensive– South Vietnamese Chief of Police executes NLF South Vietnamese Chief of Police executes NLF

officer. officer. – Horror broadcast into the living rooms of Horror broadcast into the living rooms of

American citizens.American citizens.

Hopelessness All Over TVHopelessness All Over TV• CBS: September, 1967CBS: September, 1967– John Laurence visits Con Thien, 3 kilometers from John Laurence visits Con Thien, 3 kilometers from

North VietnamNorth Vietnam– Site of fierce fighting for over a yearSite of fierce fighting for over a year– Interviews soldiersInterviews soldiers– Morale at an all-time low Morale at an all-time low (0:22-1:48)(0:22-1:48)

Broadcast of Questionable ActivityBroadcast of Questionable Activity

• CBS: Morely Safer, reporting from Cam NeCBS: Morely Safer, reporting from Cam Ne– Soldiers filmed burning down homes, and killing Soldiers filmed burning down homes, and killing

civilians civilians (4:58-6:35)(4:58-6:35)

• President Johnson accuses CBS president, President Johnson accuses CBS president, Frank Stanton, and Safer of impeding progress Frank Stanton, and Safer of impeding progress in Vietnamin Vietnam

• White House to CBS: Replace SaferWhite House to CBS: Replace Safer• Safer banned from all Marine Corps areasSafer banned from all Marine Corps areas

Protests Are The NormProtests Are The Norm• Often broadcast on TV, Often broadcast on TV,

sometimes blockedsometimes blocked• Broadcasting Magazine, Broadcasting Magazine,

Feb 28, 1966:Feb 28, 1966:– 3 New York TV stations turn 3 New York TV stations turn

down 30-minute down 30-minute documentary, “While Brave documentary, “While Brave Men Die”Men Die”

– Depicted actions of Depicted actions of protestorsprotestors

– ““Would not be a significant Would not be a significant addition to what has addition to what has already been carried on already been carried on newscasts about such newscasts about such protests.”protests.”

Critical Broadcasts = War’s End?Critical Broadcasts = War’s End?• After Tet Offensive, anchors increasingly After Tet Offensive, anchors increasingly

critical of Vietnam Warcritical of Vietnam War• Walter Cronkite editorial : Walter Cronkite editorial : (1:02-2:09)(1:02-2:09)

– February 27, 1968February 27, 1968– “ “It seems now more than certain than ever that It seems now more than certain than ever that

the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate.”stalemate.”

– President Johnson: “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost President Johnson: “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America.”middle America.”

• Broadcast TV showed too much?Broadcast TV showed too much?