QUICKLINK U.S. · October 9, 2009 · Prior restraints
New military policy prohibits photos of troops killed in action
Keywords: Afghanistan; military; Military access; Photography & videotaping
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The agreement journalists must sign to become embedded with a military unit in Afghanistan now includes a prohibition against any photographic or video coverage of U.S. troops killed in action, according to a copy of the latest agreement.
As recently as July, the ground rules journalists agreed to in order to receive a media badge at Regional Command East stated that "media will not be prohibited from covering casualties" as long as the images were not released prior to Department of Defense officials notifying the service member's next of kin.
A new version of ground rules released in September states that "media will not be allowed to photograph or record video of U.S. personnel killed in action" and can only publish written reports of casualties after a DOD announcement has been made.
The debate over the publication of photographs of troops killed in action was reignited in September when the Associated Press published a picture of a fatally wounded Marine. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote a letter of protest to AP President Tom Curley about the photo, and the new policy was released soon afterward.
— Amanda Becker, 1:07 pm
Comments: (6)
Comment by John Andrew Prime, Fri, Oct 9, 4:52pm
This is a silly and short-sighted policy, and one not rooted in history. I can offer dozens of instances in 1944 and 1945 when the paper I work for printed photos of US troops dead on beaches, on ships, etc. And these were were passed BY THE MILITARY. We can't avoid all war so we must understand it, in all its naked, brutal forms.
Comment by Mike McCormick, Fri, Oct 9, 10:25pm
It appears the Pentagon expects embedded reporters to sign on as public relations personnel rather than reporters. More change we can believe in.
Comment by Anita Stewart, Sun, Oct 11, 2:39pm
CENSORSHIP, plain and simple!
Comment by TD, Wed, Oct 14, 5:00pm
John Andrew,
Were the casualties and their families clearly identified by name in the WWII photos? No.
What AP did was disgusting and has now caused a blowback on the entire media. Too bad that the stupidity of a few means tough rules for everyone.
Comment by Kassi Hatten, Fri, Oct 16, 12:12am
Personally, I do not agree with allowing photos or video of troops being killed in action or fatally wounded. It serves no clear purpose other than to give true light to war, which in any case, a good journalist should be able to do without such visuals. I am speaking from both ends as an army wife of a deployed soldier and a journalist. Is a good news story worth the possible damage it could do to a soldier's loved one?
Comment by Dennis, Sun, Nov 1, 2:33am
More bull from the goverment.
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