The article critiques the common belief that US media coverage was a significant factor in shaping public opinion against the Vietnam War. Many view the media as either undermining a dedicated war effort or awakening a national conscience about the war's injustices. However, these narratives misrepresent the actual role of the media, which often reported government narratives without critical scrutiny. The legacy of this coverage parallels current media practices, where many reports on military actions remain shallow and dependent on official sources, with the public largely unaware of ongoing conflicts.
The narrative that mainstream media caused Americans to turn against the Vietnam War is a flawed perspective; it oversimplifies complex dynamics of public opinion and military actions.
Scapegoating media fits into narratives of lost wars and undermines the reality that coverage often fell short in accurately depicting the true nature of US engagements.
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