Question

First Amendament

At the beginning of the war in Iraq, the Qatar-based satellite news network al-Jazeera interviewed captured soldiers and took pictures of slain soldiers. The al-Jazeera footage showed U.S. soldiers being asked questions about their hometowns and their reasons for coming to Iraq. U.S. officials criticized the Iraqi government for allowing the television station to record the interviews and broadcast the footage. CBS News briefly showed a clip of the al-Jazeera tape, but stopped when the Pentagon emailed U.S. news organizations and asked them not to use the tape.

If CBS News had not voluntarily ceased showing the tape, could the U.S. government have obtained a court order preventing CBS News from broadcasting the footage? Why or why not? Explain the legal issues fully. What were the ethical issues that CBS News needed to consider in broadcasting the footage?

Answer 1

The Al - Jazeera Jowned a satellite news network by the government of Qatar, is currently one of the largest news organisations in the world .Al Jazeera also produces in-depth documentaries on current issues around the world. While Al Jazeera has a large audience, the organisation and the original Arabic channel in particular have sometimes been criticised and have been involved in several controversies.

One of the controversies is of Al - Jazeera is associated with American soldiers who became victim of said Qatar news channel who interviewed captured soldiers and took pictures of slain soldiers.Al Jazeera has been criticized for being state media owned by Qatar.The action of qatar's news channel was badly critized by US government officials.

CBS News is the news division of American television and radio service. The CBS news network had briefly showed the clip of U.S. in which Soldiers of US conditions and questioning were depicted. The clip was immediately asked to ban by Penatgon ( The Pentagon is often used as a symbol of the American military complex, as the shape makes it readily recognizable.)

The tape broadcasted by CBS news was not ethical as it depicted country's soldiers questioning about their hometowns and also showed pitures of slain soldiers. But after intervantion of Pentagon, CBS did not broadcasted the clip. Since we know US is a free economy in which private organizations and other enitities are not under the control of government . They can freely continue their work as per their organization's demand .

But It is the country's government responsibility to tackle the situation in case of any unethical behaviour or action done by any of its country's organization ( Whether Private or Government) to secure the pride of the country . So in case If CBS News had not voluntarily ceased showing the tape, The US government could  have obtained a court order preventing CBS News from broadcasting the footage. Ths could be the long and complex process but it would be the need of the hour to tackle the situation.

Below are the legal issues .

1. Copyright and Intellectual Property : No broadcasting channel or like CBS news channel use an image without proper permission and credit.News channels must not use any video or clip broadcasted by any other news network , as it could contain fake contents which could affect nation's economy.

2.Invasion of Privacy : “Anything that’s out there in the public, you’re welcome to report on.As per this statement, Nothing was too wrong being an independent news netwok for CBS news but since it was affecting country's soldier's conditions it had to be banned by the government.

3. Defamation :  When journalists publish or report on a false statement about an individual, they are defaming them. The clip shared by qatar's news network to American CBS news channel was giving us the false side of the situation which could demotivate the US and hece banned by the US government.

The below ethical issues could have been considered by the CBS news while broadcasting the footage.

1. It is the responsibilty of news network to show correct news that should be consistent with the Governement authorities and should not go against the ethics and law. CBS did consistent cooperation with pentagon.

2. The interference by the government, however well intentioned, would imperil not just this method of independent journalism, but the very process of investigation itself. hence it is imperative that the news channels lay guidelines ,procedural safeguards and etablish a body that would act as a watchdog and a greviance redressal forum.

3. Accuracy is at the heart of the news channel. Viewers need speed and back to back news but it is the responsibilities of th news channel to keep accuracy and balance and just not broadcst everythings that is not required.

4.Endangering National seurity : All news channels should use specific terminologies mandated by law and government rules . CBS news could also followed the pentagon rules.News channels will also refrain from aloowing broadcast that encourage secessionist groups and interests , reveals information that endangers lives and national securities.