Media and Patriotism: A Complex Relationship
It’s interesting to note that during my time with the White House press corps, it seemed like reporters were hesitant to express “prayers of loyalty” with fellow Americans at the White House. There was this feeling that it might compromise their objectivity. Maybe it wasn’t simply about patriotism, but more about a perceived lack of gratitude towards the freedoms of the press in the United States.
For broadcast media, the disconnect from American roots became particularly pronounced during the Vietnam War. An iconic moment was when CBS anchor Walter Cronkite declared in 1968 that America was losing in Saigon. Despite being seen as a model of objectivity, his influence made politicians uneasy. The media’s ability to impact public sentiment seems to outweigh traditional patriotic values.
There’s often a tension between journalism and patriotism; it’s almost like journalists criticize patriotism as a blind allegiance. They prefer to always be seen as right, associating patriotism with war and conflict.
Back in March 1989, there was controversy surrounding a PBS program called “American Ethics.” Professor Charles Ogrett presented a hypothetical where the U.S. was at war against a fictional nation, North Cosan, which threatened American troops. When asked if reporters had a duty to alert the military, CBS journalist Mike Wallace firmly said no. Interestingly, ABC’s Peter Jennings initially seemed to waver but landed on a similar conclusion.
In 1990, during a Primetime Special, Jennings highlighted that America wasn’t always a force for good, stating that it was heavily involved in Cambodia, which was on the brink of despair.
After 9/11, there was a moment of unity, but not for everyone. Six days later, ABC host Bill Maher controversially claimed that the terrorists who attacked were more courageous than American pilots.
Interestingly, a CBS producer, Dick Meyer, shared a personal story about his daughter wanting to display the American flag. He admitted that it made for a complicated emotional landscape, partly due to his wife’s reservations about the flag, which was associated with war in her youth.
PBS host Bill Moyers also weighed in, criticizing the commercialization of patriotism. He noted that the flag had been co-opted into a symbol of a narrow form of patriotism, likening it to propaganda.
Fast forward to 2007, and even “The View” featured Rosie O’Donnell, who suggested that America had engaged in acts of terrorism.
More recently, in 2021, Olympian Gwen Berry made headlines for turning away from the flag during the national anthem, with Whoopi Goldberg defending her choice. It raises questions about how journalists and public figures navigate their relationship with patriotism.
In a free society, journalists have the liberty to critique and question their nation. But when the public loses faith in a media outlet that appears to challenge national unity, it’s worth considering the implications of that skepticism.
