On March 18, 2003, just days before the beginning of the war on Iraq, Bill Brioux published a column in the Toronto Sun describing war as the "ultimate in reality TV." Bill argued that 24/7 war coverage would displace entertainment programming, making Survivor, American Idol and The Bachelor the "first casualties" of the conflict.
We invited Bill to discuss the column with Dwayne Winseck, Professor of Communications at Carleton University. The transcript of their e-mail exchange offers interesting perspectives on the role of media during wartime. The opinions expressed are those of the respective authors.
Synopsis of the Debate
Dwayne's opener to Bill addresses how using journalistic "conventions" – relying on familiar assumptions, common sense and popular knowledge as "hooks" to explain a complex story in a simple way – trivializes the importance of the issues and ignores peoples' attempts to take seriously their responsibilities as “members of a public and not just an audience." Dwayne argues that war coverage has not displaced regular programming, but politicized it. From the Oscars to Oprah, war, media, popular culture and politics have merged, with media becoming central actors in the conflict.
Bill responds by pointing out the very practical realities that journalists face – such as the need to convey a complex story in eight short paragraphs within a two-hour publication deadline. He follows up on Dwayne's comments by musing on the "cozy relationship between the White House, the Pentagon and the media," and looks at the new and unprecedented ways in which live coverage of a war affects public opinion.
In reply, Dwayne identifies the common ground between them, and discusses how the state's attempt to "manage public expectations" is complicated by the fact that entertainment programming is woven into the politics of war. He argues that media professionals can no longer claim they are impartial, and have to choose between helping the government conceal dissensus, or amplifying global tensions, in a "world where the boundaries between the media, politics and culture are dissolving and not easily contained."
Bill closes the debate with a new column about the ways in which "phony 'reality' shenanigans” may have irreversibly damaged TV's "ability to convey truth."
