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Peter Brock:
One Against the Pack.
Peter Brock is an experienced print journalist specializing in the role of the Western media in the Balkan wars. He has received seventeen professional awards and has a journalistic career spanning more than thirty years. His book, Media Cleansing: Dirty Reporting, exposed the failings of Western journalists in their coverage of the 1991-2002 Balkan wars.
Originally printed in the Autumn 2007 issue of Black Oak Presents, pg. 4-5.
Black Oak:
Would you explain to our readers a little bit about your background in covering the breakup of Yugoslavia? What set you apart from the journalists you criticize in Media Cleansing: Dirty Reporting?
Would you explain to our readers a little bit about your background in covering the breakup of Yugoslavia? What set you apart from the journalists you criticize in Media Cleansing: Dirty Reporting?Mr. Brock:I had some knowledge of the Serbo-Croatian language, and I knew the history of the South Slav "kingdom" and the post-World War 2 Titoist federation. Also, I pursued continuous study of the Balkans and had traveled throughout the six republics and two autonomous provinces since 1976, intensifying my on-the-ground presence during the critical dissolution of Yugoslavia in the mid- to late-1980s.
I had some knowledge of the Serbo-Croatian language, and I knew the history of the South Slav "kingdom" and the post-World War 2 Titoist federation. Also, I pursued continuous study of the Balkans and had traveled throughout the six republics and two autonomous provinces since 1976, intensifying my on-the-ground presence during the critical dissolution of Yugoslavia in the mid- to late-1980s. At the outset of the civil wars, I perceived immediately that the media―correspondents, regional bureau editors and their editors in the West―had little or no basic exposure to the language or history of the Balkans. Similarly, desk editors of individual newspapers and electronic media organizations were abysmally lacking in these same perspectives. As the wars progressed, I focused my examinations on the media itself and the initial effects of propaganda being churned out by U.S. public relations firms and the "new" governments of the republics.
Black Oak:What role do you think willful blindness had to play in the reporting of the Balkan wars? Why were reporters so willing to look the other way in the face of contradictory facts?
What role do you think willful blindness had to play in the reporting of the Balkan wars? Why were reporters so willing to look the other way in the face of contradictory facts?Mr. Brock:A degree of willful blindness in the media stemmed from a shrill hybrid journalism/diplomatist self-image, playing to a cadre of political caricatures, i.e. Eagleberger, Dole, Holbrook, Berger, Albright, et al. The inability to speak the "language" and lack of Balkan experience compelled reliance on native operatives who simply told reporters what they were looking at―and were believed.
A degree of willful blindness in the media stemmed from a shrill hybrid journalism/diplomatist self-image, playing to a cadre of political caricatures, i.e. Eagleberger, Dole, Holbrook, Berger, Albright, et al. The inability to speak the "language" and lack of Balkan experience compelled reliance on native operatives who simply told reporters what they were looking at―and were believed. Black Oak:When I was in elementary school, my teacher encouraged our class to read Zlata’s Diary, an account of one girl’s life in Sarajevo between 1991 and 1993. The book was billed as a modern day Diary of Anne Frank. Why do you think we, in the United States, needed to see ourselves as preventing a new holocaust?
When I was in elementary school, my teacher encouraged our class to read Zlata’s Diary, an account of one girl’s life in Sarajevo between 1991 and 1993. The book was billed as a modern day Diary of Anne Frank. Why do you think we, in the United States, needed to see ourselves as preventing a new holocaust?Mr. Brock:The premise of your question is askew. First, Zlata's Diary was just one of a series of PR "stunts" designed to "re-create" an image of the Holocaust. More than one source established that the writings were heavily embellished if not completely ghost-written.
The premise of your question is askew. First, Zlata's Diary was just one of a series of PR "stunts" designed to "re-create" an image of the Holocaust. More than one source established that the writings were heavily embellished if not completely ghost-written. I do not think Western "news" consumers ever accepted the "new holocaust" hysteria simply because the intermediate "numbers" were never there. Likewise, the final tally of those killed during the Yugoslavian wars amounted to "only" two-hundredths of one-percent of the Holocaust annihilations in the death camps.Black Oak:Why do you think the news media chose to portray the Serbs as the “men in the black hats,” when killings and atrocities were committed by all sides?
Why do you think the news media chose to portray the Serbs as the “men in the black hats,” when killings and atrocities were committed by all sides?Mr. Brock:Because of the simplistic presumption that news consumers needed a clear though naive perspective of good guys/bad guys. Also, the notion of changing opponents in several different civil wars was too much for reporters to grasp, let alone the news consumers.
Because of the simplistic presumption that news consumers needed a clear though naive perspective of good guys/bad guys. Also, the notion of changing opponents in several different civil wars was too much for reporters to grasp, let alone the news consumers.Black Oak:What do you think explains the American public’s short memory when it comes to events like the Balkan wars?
What do you think explains the American public’s short memory when it comes to events like the Balkan wars?Mr. Brock:The absence of competence in European history―past, present, and doubtless the future.
The absence of competence in European history―past, present, and doubtless the future.Black Oak:You have described American journalism as “self-adulating,” please elaborate on that sentiment.
You have described American journalism as “self-adulating,” please elaborate on that sentiment.Mr. Brock:Journalist celebrities don't let facts get in the way of "good" stories. The story "is" because they say it is so. Self-importance is the blood of journalist ego.
Journalist celebrities don't let facts get in the way of "good" stories. The story "is" because they say it is so. Self-importance is the blood of journalist ego.Black Oak:From your study of journalism in the Balkan wars, what conclusions can you draw about the reporting of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
From your study of journalism in the Balkan wars, what conclusions can you draw about the reporting of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? Mr. Brock:Embedded reporters haven't "fixed" anything. They have subjugated themselves to report one side while reaching the limits of news reporting in a comprehensively hostile environment where there is no certain perspective other than being embedded. Foreign correspondence is DOA in this generation.
Embedded reporters haven't "fixed" anything. They have subjugated themselves to report one side while reaching the limits of news reporting in a comprehensively hostile environment where there is no certain perspective other than being embedded. Foreign correspondence is DOA in this generation.Black Oak:Given the media fiasco surrounding the Balkan wars, and the need for a free society to have access to accurate information, what do you think are the consequences for the American public if this type of “pack journalism” continues?
Given the media fiasco surrounding the Balkan wars, and the need for a free society to have access to accurate information, what do you think are the consequences for the American public if this type of “pack journalism” continues?Mr. Brock:The "American public"―if it is to avail itself of any "access to accurate information"―must become selective in its attainment of information from a variety of sources. Who would ever have thought that Pravda and TANJUG would lend clarity to such events as the Yugoslavian wars? Yet, they and others were a valuable contrast to the grist of Western news reporting. "Pack journalism" is/has been a permanent fixture in any "free" or lesser society. "Pack journalism" is also cheaper for corporate heads of "news organizations," so-called.
The "American public"―if it is to avail itself of any "access to accurate information"―must become selective in its attainment of information from a variety of sources. Who would ever have thought that Pravda and TANJUG would lend clarity to such events as the Yugoslavian wars? Yet, they and others were a valuable contrast to the grist of Western news reporting. "Pack journalism" is/has been a permanent fixture in any "free" or lesser society. "Pack journalism" is also cheaper for corporate heads of "news organizations," so-called.For more information, visit www.mediacleansing.com
Interview conducted by Michael Kleen
