Explain the tension between the media and the government, police and security forces. Provide an example

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• On the one hand, they compete for favorable media coverage. On the other hand, governments exhibit strong disdain for the press because media social constructions often run counter to governmental objectives and policies.
• Governments seek to harness the power of the media for social control.
• The social meanings created by news segments favor governmental policy, security forces come to the opposite conclusion.
• Chiefs of police and military commanders generally do not respect or trust media figures and reporters, and their attitudes are reflected by line personnel.
• Specialized command units are often created in police agencies to portray a favorable image to reporters, and U.S. military forces include public relations units when they go to war.
• For example, in hostage situations security forces are responsible for the fate of the victims.
• Reporters often do not focus on the security mission of such incidents because they are under tremendous pressure to be first with the story, and they have their own agendas when reporting the story.
• As a result law enforcement and military goals often conflict with the goals of the reporters.