Media coverage of fallen military members

A few weeks has passed since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S.  And most families have allowed the media into the very personal ceremony.  14 out of 19 to be exact.  Some critics of the media being allowed in had warned that military families needed privacy and peace activists might exploit the images.  Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers of Hopewell, Va., who died April 4 in Afghanistan, was the first combat casualty where the media was allowed to attend.  

 The ban on media coverage began in 1991, when President George H.W. Bush imposed it during the Persian Gulf War. It was meant to protect the privacy of grieving families.  It’s still too early to tell whether military families favor the new policy.

 Media interest has dwindled since the almost 40 reporters, photographers and camera operators turned out to document the arrival of Myers’ body. At some of the more recent casualty arrivals, the only media representative was a lone photographer from The Associated Press. Even if the media is not present, the Department of Defense films each casualty arrival for which consent is given and presents a recording to the family. Christie Woods initially declined media coverage of the return of her husband, Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., of Lebanon Junction, Ky., who was killed along with Jason Pautsch. She changed her mind so family members who couldn’t travel to Dover would have the video, according to casualty assistance officer Sgt. Joseph Chapman.

While survivors are asked whether they consent to media coverage and want to travel to Dover, a policy memo issued by Defense Secretary Robert Gates states that media contact with family members will be allowed “only if specifically requested” by the family.

AP