media and Vietnam
... One event that changed our nation dramatically was the Vietnam War. From thousands killed to media outrage, the Vietnam War shaped our country into what it is today. The single most important change came from the media at the time of the war; misrepresentation and twisted media coverage brought the chaos of war into the living rooms of America. ... Television media coverage is held to a much higher standard than that of newspapers and magazines. ... This lead to the creation of the Fairness Doctrine; a set of standards for electronic media to ensure it will be used “in the public interest. ... Many of those who fought in Vietnam look back and validate the media. With glorifying scenes and nearly no blood shed, the war on television and the war in Vietnam share few similarities. ... While the Vietnam War continued on to what the majority would call a lengthy war, the media coverage became routine and began to lose ratings. ... This was the beginning of the media shaping the views of the nation; a society that is easily persuaded, crumbled at the chance to question the media.