TV and Media Coverage of the War in Vietnam

Question 1

How did TV coverage of the Vietnam War change public perceptions of the war?

Answer 1

• Coverage was not always favourable, but the government couldn’t stop it
• Lowered public morale, especially footage like that of the My Lai massacre

Question 2

Media coverage in the 60s became constant and colour TV became readily accessible - how did this affect public perception of the war?

Answer 2

• American public was exposed to the nature of war more than in any previous war, so was shocked by the brutality and number of losses they saw daily
• Led many Americans to believe the war was unwinnable

Question 3

How did photos such as “Napalm Girl” and “General Nguyen Ngoc Loan executing a Viet Cong prisoner in Saigon” affect US public perception of the war?

Answer 3

• Photos weren’t censored and were published internationally, so they increased worldwide opposition to the war

Question 4

In what year was the photo of a prisoner being executed in Saigon published?

Answer 4

1968

Question 5

When did CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite visit Vietnam?

Answer 5

1968, after the Tet Offensive

Question 6

What did Walter Cronkite publicly announce after visiting Vietnam?

Answer 6

That “we are mired in stalemate”

Question 7

What was President Johnson’s response to Walter Cronkite’s claim and why?

Answer 7

• “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America”
• News programmes like CBS News had huge viewing figures, so Cronkite’s announcement was a turning point for the US public as millions of Americans came to agree with him that the war was futile

Question 8

Media coverage of North Vietnam was strictly censored and Vietnamese atrocities were rarely shown - how did this affect public perception?

Answer 8

• Media coverage was one-sided, so focussed on American losses and weaknesses
• eg, coverage of the Tet Offensive showed it as a disaster despite being a victory for the Americans
• This lowered morale not only at home but also amongst troops in Vietnam

Question 9

When were the Pentagon Papers leaked to the media?

Answer 9

1971

Question 10

Which paper published the Pentagon Papers?

Answer 10

The New York Times

Question 11

What did the Pentagon Papers show?

Answer 11

That the government was confused over the war and had deliberately lied to the public

Question 12

What effect did the Pentagon Papers being published have on US public perception?

Answer 12

• Undermined the government’s authority, people refused to believe the government’s line on the war
• Political opposition to the war increased further