Media and The Vietnam War How media changed

Media and The Vietnam War How media changed public opinion during the war in Vietnam.

Warm Up: Use your brains! Discuss the influence of media on the public opinion of the Vietnam Conflict. none 1. Which countries fought in the Vietnam War? 2. Why were we interested in Vietnam?

How do these posters make you feel? How would you respond?

“VIET CONG BEWARE!” “Nowhere to run… nowhere to hide!” Given the information you have so far, would you support the war in Vietnam? Why or Why not? (1 -2 sentences)

Vietnam: “The Television War” • By the mid-1960’s, television was the most important source of news for the American public, and had huge influences on public opinion. • In 1950, only 9 percent of homes owned a television. By 1966, 93% of homes had television! • Television news did not find material that was dramatic enough until the number of American troops was raised to 175, 000 in July 1965

• From 1965 to 1968, 86% of the CBS and NBC nightly news programs covered the war, focusing mostly on ground air combat • Until 1967, most media coverage of the war was positive. The United States was very anti -communist, and the war was portrayed as “good guys shooting reds”

The Turning Point • By the fall of 1967, 90% of TV news was devoted to the war. Roughly 50 million people watched TV news each night. • Support began to decrease in the fall of 1967, but the major turning point in television's coverage of the war occurred during the Tet Offensive in late January 1968. • The Tet Offensive was actually a U. S. Victory, but was portrayed as a brutal defeat for the U. S.

• Now would you support the war in Vietnam? Why or why not? Did you change your mind from earlier? (2 -3 sentences) How did the media (News and pictures) effect the opinions of the public back home in the US? (3 -5 sentences)

Propaganda posters!

• http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ea. Klso. Vv WTE