Questioning Media Coverage of Pentagon $ 40,000 Recruit and Re-Up Bonus Packages

QUESTIONING MEDIA COVERAGE                                                                                                      

by Robert Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, Staff

Yesterday morning, December 3, 2007, my wife and I watched and listened to the Morning News anchor covering a story (using videos) that had a lead in of “Army Ups the Ante.” The attention getter alone was sufficient to get viewers in our Ultra-Conservative region of Ohio to pay close attention, especially if one had a close relation in harms way or had been there.      

What concerned us is that the TV station news department was reporting on a story that was Old News, but that will be the subject of another article.  The Pentagon has been using the carrot of increasingly larger enlistment bonus packages, since the invasion of Iraq began. In fact, upon closer examination, I learned that this story had been on-line and exposed by both the Associated Press AND Air Force Times Newspaper since the summer of 2006. This news anchor was highlighting a story with video coverage based on an article that made its rounds on-line and elsewhere OVER A YEAR AGO.

Way back in July 2006 is when a journalist originally reported the fact that Army Recruiters were offering $40,000 enlistment bonuses.

Frankly, the deeper I dug into background on this ‘latest’ News, the more questions were raised, and not only from an anti-Iraqinam War aspect but should have been questionable by those who support ‘their President’s War.’  This inspired me to contact the VP and General Manager of WHIO TV, Newscenter 7 and ask a lot of questions that I know will not be answer much less my communication with them given the potential black listing any media outlet receives from the White House for being too detailed and accurate on media reporting on Iraq. I realistically do not expect a reply regardless how valid my questions are nor how non-partisan I try to be.  

I intend posting for our readers exactly what I asked the TV station management. I informed them that, in the event my questions are ignored, I was going to publish this letter on-line. Not only for the Veterans, Military Families, and troops (especially Ohio National Guard troops) scheduled to go to Iraq during 2008, but for education of the public as to just how inaccurate and late news reporting on the Iraq War really is. It was pointed out in the coverage that the Army was targeting select recruits and active duty Soldiers, and regionally focusing where and to who these bonuses would be offered by Military Recruiters. Two areas on high interests to the Army were Akron and Toledo, Ohio.

That part of the TV news coverage alone should have raised eyebrows, because the News Anchor just let his dog eat the rest of the story by not telling viewer why the Army was selectively targeting geographic regions (cities) in my home state. What I really intend doing is passing my question onto political and other activists in Northern, Ohio who share my families concerns in Toledo, and Akron, Ohio. With that said, here is the text of what I asked a TV News department.

“What are your views on our Story –   Army Ups the Ante?” 

VP and General Manager, WHIO TV, Mr. Harry Delaney, and News Director Mr. David Bennallack, 

Subject: Your News Coverage of Army Ups the Ante

Dear Mr. Delaney and Mr. David Bennallack  

Gentlemen,

     My name is Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired a resident of your viewing area. This morning (12/03/07) News Anchor James Brown covered a newsworthy story that he led off with the comment, "Army Ups the Ante."

     As the father who had a child placed in harms way during this War, I commend your station for balanced yet vague reporting. I understand the time constraints that encourage  giving the public the tip of the iceberg on a story however is to cover as many stories in the time alloted.

     Regardless, this coverage of the Army being in dire straights in getting 'volunteers' to go to Iraq, though not in those exact words a blind man can see the meaning. When Mr. Brown reports (along with outstanding video) that the Army is having such a hard time getting military recruits that it is upping the ante hoping to make potential recruits an offer they cannot resist (that could have been interpreted as an offer selective recruits cannot 'refuse,' and those were the exact words of your News Anchor.)

     When my wife and I saw this coverage, we were both satisfied yet concerned that your station is most likely going to get more disagreement and hate mail for not so-called "Supporting Our Troops (They really mean President or government to put it PC.), than you bargained for.

     That said, you have my military families passionate support for reporting both the up side and down side of the Iraq War. Even though that may not have been your intent, we especially commend your station for its format of reflecting both the positive and negative aspects of this questionable war with coverage that Recognizes America's Warriors back-to-back with negative coverage of the war. It is how you balance reporting by doing such a comparative presentation that we commend. I hope that it will fend off any criticism from those who oppose the war or support it.  

     To clarify, we are a military family who strongly believes that those who support this war, we do not, emphasize and focus on Support for a Politician (the transition Presidency) over seriously Supporting Our Child the Soldier. Any research or close examination of Pro-War groups will confirm that most pro-war rally signs and related material are more 'defensive' of the President's policies than in support of any American troops. In comparison, a close examination and review of any photos or video coverage of anti-Iraqinam War demonstrators reflects an overwhelming conflict with a politician and 'a questionable war' (or wars), and even that opposition is not universal or united in anti-War views.

     What makes opposition to this war (Iraq) so unique is that military family members and Veterans spear head the movement many who are not pacifists, and many who have no beef with the military, military service, and do not oppose 'all wars.' In fact, this is a aspect that potentially keeps any serious anti-war movement as such from gaining ground, especially given there is no draft.

     Anyway, I thank Mr. James Brown for having the courage to cover such a controversial issue as decreasing military recruitment without getting down and dirty as to reasons why. Mr. Brown kept it brief and to the point. The Army is so desperate for ground troops that it had increased bonuses to 'only certain' troops in only 'certain regions.'

      However, I could not find an email address for Mr. Brown to ask him a few questions about his outstanding coverage. If you would be so kind to forward this message to him so that he may consider responding to my questions, since I am going to quote him and your station in an article I am 'drafting' (no pun intended) for publication on ‘the VT Network.’ The on-line national level network of Veterans, Military Families, and others who oppose this war, but are concerned about our troops, we hate using the phrase "Support Our Troops," because it is so hypocritical.

Questions:                                  

1. Where is the on-line link to this coverage, especially video link? I am quite computer literate and searched your website without success. In fact, there is no on-line mention of this coverage even using your SEARCH engine. Have there been enough complaints from our ultra-conservative viewing area (ratings concern) to have it removed?

2. I have been researching and following this same issue, since it became news way back in the summer of 2006. Why did it take our local news station so many months to report on it?       The fact that the Army has ‘Upped the Ante’ as reported by your TV station has been common knowledge for over a year. The ‘Serious' Veterans and Military Family Community (regardless of ideological views) know that the source for that news worthy info came out of both AP, and hold your breath, the Air Force Times newspaper (both hard copy and on-line).  

     The independent media outlet I write for is similar in scope and function as the Military Times Network (Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Times collectively). Although I tend to focus on a younger audience (across political party lines) concerned about expansion of this questionable war elsewhere in the Middle East, due to the reality that the Selective Service Agency (SSA) is still being annually funded by the Pentagon (SSA in fact is part of the Pentagon budget). As long as the SSA continues to exist, so does the potential for implementing THE DRAFT should $40,000 'bait and switch tactics' of military recruiters fail. That is of interest to all college age students, especially in the Toledo and Akron areas mentioned in your news report.

3. Mr. Brown mentioned that the Army is focusing on (targeting) only selective potential recruits, re-enlistments, and mentioned only Akron and Toledo, Ohio as high interests’ areas. However, Mr. Brown did not mention ‘why’ only Akron and Toledo are of special interest to the Army. I will eventually find out anyway, and pass what I find onto Governor Ted Strickland who commands our Ohio National Guard, when they are not recalled to active duty. However, my question is could the Army be focusing on these two areas of Ohio, because that is from where the Ohio National Guard unit scheduled for redeployment to Iraq in the Spring is located?

In other words, why did Mr. Brown’s coverage tend to focus only on those two areas of Ohio, and why is that significant to what ‘he decided’ to report? The reason I ask this question is in anticipation of questions my readers, including the governor, located in those areas will ask once I post Mr. Browns coverage on-line and send it to Governor Strickland.

If Mr. Brown would be willing to provide insight to these questions on a story ‘he reported,’ it would make the accuracy of getting your station's take on the story a lot easier to accomplish. In return, I would be willing to share what insight I have, and links to data about my story which will be titled: The Army Increased Military Recruit Bonus to $40,000 as an offset to 40,000 Deserters (based on data already reported by Air Force Times and Associated Press way back in July and August of 2006).

Have a Great VT Day,

Respectfully,

Robert L. Hanafin  Staff Writer, the VT News Network

Home Address:

Home Phone:  (PRIVATE PLEASE)

Email: [email protected] 

PS: This communication to your network will be posted on the VT Network, Veterans for America (VFA), and Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) for the benefit of our readers, especially those residing in the Toledo and Akron, Ohio areas. Thank You for the coverage.

***************END OF LETTER***************** 

     Most of our readers here on the VT Network of course have your own views on the Mainstream Media (I will not dignify the concept of Liberal Media, because that depends on ‘the target audience’ a local media outlet depends on for RATINGS. It is not as simple as even I make it seem for journalism today is more complex than that and politicized based on having a Conservative, Liberal or preferably Balanced publication policy.

     That said, the below research from the PEW Research Center for the People and the Press, Internet News Audience Highly Critical of News Organizations sheds some insight into why WE THE PEOPLE need to question inaccurate and unbalanced reporting. Note that I mention in my letter to the TV station that my family found them using a presentation format that gave first

     My articles tend to get a bit long-winded a bad habit I got from being a former Rush Limbaugh, Shaun Hannity radio talk show addict on Armed Forces Radio and Television Service Network.  Thus, I am not going to bore you with the details of the PEW Report, because if you want to know the details of their survey here is a link to their narrative:

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=348

 (Note: the PEW Report is in the public domain one only needs know how to search for it.)

About the Author:  Robert (Bobby) L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, is a member of Veterans for America (VFA), Veterans for Common Sense (VCS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), and writes for Our Troops Ladder.  You can email Bob at [email protected]