Network news: From Baghdad to Paris Hilton

By Spc. Matthew Mikolas, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Editor’s note: Last week Street Talk asked members of the community what they would like people to know about Soldiers they don’t see in the news. This commentary appears in the April edition of Desert Raider, published by 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in support of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division currently deployed in Iraq. It gives a deployed Soldier’s take on what he sees on the networks.

Ok, networks, I understand that you need to report on ‘real news.’ I’m sorry if the ongoing progress in Diyala is something that might move Lindsay Lohan’s newest rehab attempt to the third story on the telecast.

Meanwhile, families from a small town called Durah, who moved out of their homes eleven months ago because of the terrorist threat, recently moved back in because of the improved security situation. But you don’t see stories like that on the news. All you hear about in Iraq is the death toll, and the political battle to end the war over here. Here is a simulated newscast to show what I mean:

“Good evening. Thank you for tuning into NMN, the Narrow-Minded News, for the involuntarily uninformed everywhere. I’m Plenty O’Toole. Leading off tonight, more Americans died in Baghdad today. In other news, Paris Hilton, reportedly drunk, flashed reporters while driving to her weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. We now go to Hilton’s friend Britney Spears for a comment.

“I don’t see why you guys make such a big deal about it. At least she’s off the crack now; give a girl some credit.”

“And finally, before the commercials, here’s a breaking news story. A new development is just in on the Anna Nicole Smith death. New reports say she consumed 8 pills instead of the 7 originally reported.”

What’s sad is many of you may be nodding your heads in agreement, knowing that something similar to this newscast could actually happen. And it’s not like the networks don’t get reports on everything that’s happening out here. Many of you have had me come out with you on missions, whether it’s clearing villages, hosting co-operative medical engagements, dropping off school supplies, or the tons of other things we do out here every day. And I promise you that every time I go on a mission, I distribute my video to every media outlet that has satellite capabilities, which is to say most of them.

Wouldn’t it be nice for all the people back at home to know what it is we all do out here? All the good we’re doing for the Iraqi people?

If the news would show all the great things our Soldiers are doing out here to improve Iraq, maybe we could change people’s perception about the war and the Soldiers fighting in it.

Oh, I’m sorry; I guess the reasons for Anna Nicole Smith’s death were much more important. My mistake.