Suffusion of Iraq coverage attracts criticism, praise

For months, headlines like “Bush Signals: The Time to Act
is Now” and “Italy Braces for Anti-War Clashes”
have filled the airwaves and news pages on a daily basis.

The possibility of a war with Iraq has been the primary media
focus since President George Bush first expressed his desire to
expel Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.

Yet, according to at least one UCLA communications studies
professor, the fact that many people are already apathetic to Iraq
coverage ““ even before war has begun ““ may be a sign of
oversaturation by the media on issues concerning the Middle
East.

“When I get tired of an issue, I no longer pay attention
to it. This happened some time ago with the possibility of war with
Iraq. Every day there are multiple articles in the papers on this,
but I never read any of them,” said Michael Suman, a
communications studies professor teaching “Introduction to
Communications” this quarter.

Even with what some consider incessant coverage, other
communications studies professors at UCLA maintain that the media
and its reports have been both responsible in nature and important
in keeping the public informed.

Tim Groeling, a professor who is teaching “Political
Communication” this quarter, believes that while the stories
about possible war with Iraq have been numerous, they have also
been justified. Such coverage ensures that the public realizes the
seriousness of such an event, he said.

“I don’t think they’ve overdone the coverage
at all. Invading Iraq represents a shift in our foreign policy that
has far-reaching consequences,” Groeling said, suggesting
that the intense media scrutiny of the situation in Iraq has also
affected the actions of the key players involved in the
conflict.

Criticisms of Bush’s actions may have in part led him to
rethink his strategy on invasion and integrate the United Nations
in his attempts at Hussein’s ouster, he said.

Political science professor Matthew Baum, who specializes in the
affects of the media on politics, also believes that the media
coverage has been necessary and understandable, considering that
the media is under pressure to break stories rather than simply to
follow them.

“I don’t think there are too many bigger issues to
be focusing on. The media takes the lead of the government, which
is focusing almost exclusively on Iraq now,” he said.

Baum contends that informing the public about Iraq gives them
the opportunity to form fact-based opinions and learn about the
issues impartially. As a result, what some consider
“excessive” reporting may actually be necessary for
balanced coverage.

While it may now seem to some that the Iraq coverage is
excessive, if it alienates readers and viewers enough to hurt
ratings it will probably lessen.

“I think that turning viewers off a subject is
self-correcting: when ratings decline, TV (and other media outlets)
will change the subject,” Groeling said.

However, if war with Iraq does occur, these complaints will
likely subside.

“Wait until the war starts, (opinions) will change,”
Baum said.