My Response on "Conflict and Control" & "Live TV and Bloodless Deaths"

As I read the article “Conflict and Control: The War in Afghanistan and the 24-Hour News Cycle” by Kieran Baker I realized that I had a very similar view on the news of the famous skyline; The World Trade Center falling. It was a shattering feeling of helplessness and disbelief. She also describes that after The World Trade Center collapsed, news organizations immediately made their way into Pakistan. The author describes how she was able to travel to Afghanistan as part of a news crew, only to realize that the country was living in fear. The Taliban had complete control over the people. Baker brings up several points in her article. One was based on the reporters view on the event as well as the traveling for the sake of news from Hong Kong, to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Another was where she brings up the point about the security of the reporters who have traveled to Pakistan. They were brought to a hotel in which Baker describes as “an oasis within a town”. The reporters were generally not allowed to leave unless escorted with armed guards in fear of attacks from the Taliban. With the war unfolding right before her eyes she states, “…nothing compared to the deadly problems that faced journalists as they made their way towards Jalalabad after the fall of Kabul that resulted in a convoy being attacked and its occupants killed.” I liked that the article was more personal, there are not many articles based on the reporter’s point of view. I find them to be very daring and adventurous. It is quite amazing; the reporters are going to these countries where there is definite danger in search of news and something to report.

In the article “Live TV and Bloodless Deaths: War, Infotainment and 24/7 News” by Daya Kishan Thussu, Thussu focuses on the development of news. I really liked how the author gave an overview of what his article was about. It lets the reader understand and see what is expected from Thussu’s writing. When compared to Kieran Baker’s “Conflict and Control: The War in Afghanistan and the 24-Hour News Cycle”, Baker starts off his article about the 9/11 event and what happened in his own opinions. Thussu analyzes people’s dependence on news that is twenty-four hours and seven days a week. We, as Americans, are often use to the idea that we can just turn on the television and in at least one channel there would be news. Similar to Baker, Thussu’s article discusses the importance of live coverage in 9/11. He also states that due to the readers wanting 24/7 news, finding new things to report was hard to find. The reporters did not have sufficient time to acquire new reports. In his article he states, “During the events of 9/11, television networks sometimes had to resort to speculation and supposition rather than accurate reporting.” I found the writing to be quite formal; I think the author could have put in a lot more of his own views and what he would have done to make news better.