April 11, 2008

• Framing—interpretive schema for analyzing news coverage , what is the nature of the story being told, going beyond simple facts, what is the narrative

• Indexing—helps to explain how the media, without direction from government, tends to favor policy positions held by government and newsmaking elites…ex. The Surge

• Agenda Setting—theory to explain public opinion and knowledge

Prior US/Iraq relationship—Rumsfeld meets with Saddam in December 1983

Proximate Cause—Iraq invades Kuwait or Iraq claims Kuwait is stealing Iraqi oil

Justification for invasion—stabilize oil, stop butchery, defend the peace-loving Kuwaitis

Air campaign precedes ground war—Iraqi Air Force escapes to Iran

We stop short of finishing off the Republican Guard on the road to Baghdad, Highway of

Death

August 1990—Iraq invades Kuwait, immediate UN condemnation

December 1990—Sadam declares Israel is the first target if war breaks out

January 16, 1991—Desert Storm begins January 17, 1991—First SCUD hits Israel January 19, 1991—US sends Patriot missiles

to Israel February 22-25—Iraq set Kuwait oil fields

ablaze in retreat Feb 28—it’s over!

Briefness of the Fight Dominance of air war more difficult to cover Coverage is consciously managed by a

system of pool coverage, most reporters cover the war from Saudi Arabia

Motives for censorship include: high percentage of friendly fire incidents:

23% of the dead and 15% of the wounded caused by “friendly fire” (especially true early in combat) and a vow not to repeat the mistakes of Vietnam

Devastating critique of pool reporting and the spinelessness of major news organizations in opposing it

Hill and Knowlton, planted Congressional testimony, and the myth of trashed incubators

The myth of smart munitions (so you shouldn’t worry about civilian deaths)

Why scale exam results? Criterion referenced versus norm referenced grading

Validity issues for new exams 94-98 A 63-69 C 88 A- 58-61 C- 84 B+ 52-54 D 79-80 B 47 and below F 74-76 B- 72-73 C+