Covering combat and being in a warzone often presents unique challenges that the average journalist probably will not face in their career. Going into the war zone requires those journalists to have a clear, immovable code of ethics that they stick to, so they know when a line is being crossed, whether it be personal or professional. These journalists often also face a lot of outside pressure. Those working in the military often do not want everything that happens in combat to get out to the public. Seymour Hersh and Robert Haeberle and their coverage of the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War are good examples of when a journalist had to make a tough decision whether or not to publish a story showing the atrocities that some American soldiers committed while fighting.
Hersh's reporting tells the story of the massacre from the United States. He traced down Lieutenant William L. Calley, who was being charged at the time for leading the slaughter that happened in My Lai. After the story came together, Hersh had a hard time getting it published. He faced backlash both from outside, especially from the U.S. government, and from his own people, such as magazines and newspapers refusing to publish. Robert Haeberle, a photographer who was actually at My Lai when the massacre took place, had similar problems getting his photos published. This is the kind of retaliation that many journalists face when trying to expose what happens during war.
Journalists today are often unprepared to go in and cover a war zone. It is important to remember, though, that principles of good ethical behavior are essential no matter what. Just because a journalist is in a chaotic and often violent scenario, does not mean that they should leave their own ethical ideals behind. Often times these ideals are the only thing a journalist has when faced with the harshness of trying to cover a war. The most important war coverage has often changed history. The My Lai Massacre is just one example. If those journalists had not fought to get their story published, then there might not have been as much backlash to the Vietnam War and the fighting could have continued for many more years. The most important stories are often the ones a journalist has to fight the hardest for.
In conclusion, combat and military coverage can be one of the most difficult things a journalist can do. The U.S. government and military are often very covert about what they do and do not want journalists following after them and digging up a story the military wanted to stay buried. The My Lai Massacre is just one example of this. That example, though, shows how important it is that a journalist not abandon their ethical principles even when covering something as violent and chaotic as combat. These stories can have a huge impact on the world and it is essential that the public knows what their government and military are doing overseas. It is a journalist's job to expose any atrocities being committed and to hold themselves to the same ethical standard no matter the situation they are in.
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