Bill's Response

Bill Brioux Debate: War as Reality TV? Hosted by the Media Awareness Network

Dear Dwayne,

First, thanks for putting the word 'style' in quotes when referring to my writing. I bet your media classes are a riot.

As for your suggestion that my article "talks to us like a friend," that can probably be attributed to the fact that I never went to journalism school.

I laughed out loud at the part where my friendly newspaper voice "holds our capacities to comprehend the events, let alone the idea that we might be able to do anything to influence them, in low self esteem." Who are you, Dr. Phil? Of course my article reduced a complex and serious issue to a snapshot. It is eight paragraphs and you're out where I work. I just have enough space to make an observation or two, raise an idea and present them all in as direct a manner as possible.

But let's be clear. I'm not an editorial writer here at The Sun. I'm the TV columnist. I cover TV, not war, and this week I cover war on TV.

I'm pretty sure my readers comprehend that. By writing in a clear, simple voice, I'm not writing down to anybody, or assuming that readers are powerless to effect change, in terms of TV coverage at least. In fact, I'm trying to provoke a reaction. I'm sure ol' Wally Lippman would understand.

Today, I'm trying to pound out another column, another instant reaction to events as they are unfolding on television. How they are or aren't being covered on the various channels is, I agree, a big part of this story. So is the fact that dumb guys like me have about two hours to turn an instant impression around.

I was intrigued by your comments about the cozy relationship between the White House, the Pentagon and the media. I will try to track down and dust off Hallin's book on Vietnam but the differences between the media coverage of that war and this one could fill a new book. It took time and plenty of bad news before that first living room war really started to sway opinion. This war is live, or as live as it can be given the short leash the press has accepted. From where I sit, opinions seem to be swayed on a day to day basis, going up and down like the stock market.

One thing about your comment on the Oscars. Valenti following Moore was just a coincidence. If it was designed as an opportunity for the old Texan to rally the troops and denounce evil Moore, he never took it.

And while war coverage didn't derail the Oscars it did change the way we saw this show. The halo from Hollywood's ultimate distraction wore off instantly. Instead of photos of babes in gowns, it was POW's on front pages the next day. Bush is being bumped off his agenda. Maybe we're all more empowered and independent than you think.

Gotta run, [White House Press Secretary] Ari Fleischer is at it again. Now he's quoting Kennedy to justify Bush's war spending. And you think I hold my audience with low esteem.

Cheers,

Bill