Not long ago, war news arrived with the newspaper. That changed with the advent of radio, newsreels and then network television. Vietnam became the "Living Room War," with film rushed to air just a couple of days after it was shot. In 1991, the world watched Operation Desert Storm live on cable TV.
Now, anybody with an Internet connection can contribute to the media coverage of modern wars. Whether it's a blogger from Beirut, or an Israeli hiding from rockets in Haifa, it's often raw and emotional, without the benefit of editors, fact checkers, or, in some cases, taste.
The war on the Web can bring its audience closer to the conflict, but it also puts the onus on the reader (or viewer) to distinguish propaganda from powerful glimpses of the realities of war. It can also require a strong stomach.
Guests provide a tour of Web-based news from the Middle East -- from YouTube to state-run broadcasts. Bloggers describe their experiences posting from war zones, and experts offer tips for critical viewing.
Guests:
Jefferson Morley,
hosts the World Opinion Roundup on Washington Post.com
J.D. Lasica, runs a non-profit web site called OurMedia, a pioneer in using technology to allow average people to share video, leading authority on citizen media
Ohad Hershkovitz, psychologist living outside Tel Aviv; posted video of rocket attacks on Bat Galim neighborhood outside Haifa
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