Interview Transcripts
Email Interview
David A. Schultz
Professor, Department of Political Science, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
David A. Schultz
Professor, Department of Political Science, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
1) What is your opinion on the Tet Offensive and the U.S. Media?
The media did not ask enough questions about the offense and what it meant for American military strategy. The offensive clearly jolted the American public and military confidence that we were winning the war. However, the offensive did lead the press to providing more coverage of the war on television and I think the biggest issue for the war was that this was really the first televised one. It was the television coverage, showing the war up close and personal, that really affected the public and perhaps lent a more negative slant to the coverage.
2) Do you think that the U.S. media greatly changed the American public's opinion about the Vietnam War around, helping to lead to the end of the war?
Yes. Showing the war on television help rally opposition to it.
3) How has the American Media from the 1960's and 70's affected U.S. media (newspaper, TV, etc.) in the 21st century?
I think the lasting legacy of it and the Vietnam war was to make the American media and public more skeptical about what the government says. Combine it with Watergate coverage and at least for a generation the media became more adversarial in its coverage of the government and it echoed the public's skepticism about the government.
4) Did the media have any other choice other than to report negatively about the Vietnam War?
It could have glorified war and sacrifice but it did not for three reasons. The war was not going well and it was obvious we were not winning. Pictures of death and war are not positive. Third, the media followed the generally more liberal views of America in the 60s. In short, the content or slant of the news reflected the audience.
The media did not ask enough questions about the offense and what it meant for American military strategy. The offensive clearly jolted the American public and military confidence that we were winning the war. However, the offensive did lead the press to providing more coverage of the war on television and I think the biggest issue for the war was that this was really the first televised one. It was the television coverage, showing the war up close and personal, that really affected the public and perhaps lent a more negative slant to the coverage.
2) Do you think that the U.S. media greatly changed the American public's opinion about the Vietnam War around, helping to lead to the end of the war?
Yes. Showing the war on television help rally opposition to it.
3) How has the American Media from the 1960's and 70's affected U.S. media (newspaper, TV, etc.) in the 21st century?
I think the lasting legacy of it and the Vietnam war was to make the American media and public more skeptical about what the government says. Combine it with Watergate coverage and at least for a generation the media became more adversarial in its coverage of the government and it echoed the public's skepticism about the government.
4) Did the media have any other choice other than to report negatively about the Vietnam War?
It could have glorified war and sacrifice but it did not for three reasons. The war was not going well and it was obvious we were not winning. Pictures of death and war are not positive. Third, the media followed the generally more liberal views of America in the 60s. In short, the content or slant of the news reflected the audience.
Email Interview
Paul Fessler
Professor, Department of History, Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA
Paul Fessler
Professor, Department of History, Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA
1) What is your opinion on the Tet Offensive and the U.S. Media?
From my readings, I would think that the Tet Offensive did have an impact on reporting—but not necessarily against soldiers but against upper tier military (generals) who had been promising a quick end to the war. The Tet Offensive (even if defeated) provided visual evidence to Americans (and the media) that this was not the case. But more research needs to be done on this before I would reach a conclusion.
2) Do you think that the U.S. media greatly changed the American public's opinion about the Vietnam War, helping to lead to the end of the war?
Yes—I believe the media played a role in this—as media had played a role in every American War. But length of the war had just as big an impact, I’d believe.
3) How has the American Media from the 1960's and 70's affected U.S. media (newspaper, TV, etc.) in the 21st century?
I don’t think there’s a straight line impact, necessarily—but this goes beyond the approach to Vietnam in the media. Media has changed—internet and cable TV have made the 1960's version of media a very different experience. Other issues, such as Watergate in the 1970s, have had an impact on how the American people view the media and government.
4) Did the media have any other choice other than to report negatively about the Vietnam War?
Was there a choice? Sure—but after national TV had covered the uprising in color—it was difficult to try to ignore it. The government couldn't suppress TV as easily as old print or newsreel films from WWII or Korea.
From my readings, I would think that the Tet Offensive did have an impact on reporting—but not necessarily against soldiers but against upper tier military (generals) who had been promising a quick end to the war. The Tet Offensive (even if defeated) provided visual evidence to Americans (and the media) that this was not the case. But more research needs to be done on this before I would reach a conclusion.
2) Do you think that the U.S. media greatly changed the American public's opinion about the Vietnam War, helping to lead to the end of the war?
Yes—I believe the media played a role in this—as media had played a role in every American War. But length of the war had just as big an impact, I’d believe.
3) How has the American Media from the 1960's and 70's affected U.S. media (newspaper, TV, etc.) in the 21st century?
I don’t think there’s a straight line impact, necessarily—but this goes beyond the approach to Vietnam in the media. Media has changed—internet and cable TV have made the 1960's version of media a very different experience. Other issues, such as Watergate in the 1970s, have had an impact on how the American people view the media and government.
4) Did the media have any other choice other than to report negatively about the Vietnam War?
Was there a choice? Sure—but after national TV had covered the uprising in color—it was difficult to try to ignore it. The government couldn't suppress TV as easily as old print or newsreel films from WWII or Korea.