[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, recent media interviews, both print and 
television, have subjected our young troops to questions which in my 
mind have no business being posed days before possible military action. 
These interviews are asking questions regarding fratricide, combat 
deaths, chemical or biological weapons, ``personal demons,'' and 
``bloody urban fighting.'' As many of us in the House are veterans, we 
know the sacrifices that come with service, including the loss of life. 
Our troops and their commanders know they must focus on the task 
assigned and the mission objective that must be completed. I believe 
that focus can be hindered when certain media personalities continue to 
dredge up these feelings purely for national coverage. We must be 
mindful that reporting facts is quite different from generating an 
emotional story for rating purposes.
  Today's media has a tremendous amount of access, much more so than 
they did in Desert Storm. There are 600 journalists embedded in our 
military operations. I ask that the media let our troops focus on the 
mission at hand and let them do their job and return home safely.
  Mr. Speaker, recent media interviews both print and television have 
subjected our young troops to questions, which in my mind, have no 
business being posed days before possible military action.
  These interviews are asking questions regarding fratricide, combat 
deaths, chemical or biological weapons, ``personal demons,'' and 
``bloody urban fighting.'' As many of us in the House are veterans, we 
know the sacrifices that come with service, including the loss of life.
  Our troops and their commanders know they must focus on the tasks 
assigned and the mission objectives that must be completed. I believe 
that focus can be hindered when certain media personalities continue to 
dredge up these feelings purely for national coverage.
  Let me state that I do not advocate censorship. I do advocate common 
sense. Providing media access to our troops is necessary to assist in 
providing accurate information for the American public and to counter 
false propaganda from other sources seeking to undermine our 
objectives.
  However, we must be mindful that reporting facts is quite different 
from generating an emotional story for ratings purposes. Today's media 
has a tremendous amount of access--much more so than during Desert 
Storm in 1991. There are 600 journalists embedded in our military 
operations. With that access comes responsibility . . . responsibility 
to the troops, their families and the public. I ask that the media let 
our troops focus on the mission at hand, let them do their job and 
return safely home.

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