Media

• in 1964 there was only 20 US reporters in Vietnam
• After 1965 (and the decision to send in 1000s of US troops) reporter numbers soared to 400, and 600 by 1968
• Most reporters stayed in Saigon and reported what the military press office told them
• Some reporters went with combat troops on missions and reported what they saw
• 60 journalists were killed during the War
• Journalists uncovered things that were kept hidden such as My Lai, Cambodia bombing and the capture of the US embassy. This created mistrust of the government
• photographs of the conflict sent powerful messages of the terrible cost of the war for Americans and Vietnamese alike
• 'Hard hats' were disgusted by protesters burning US flags and would beat up people protesting about kent state
• The images and news spread by the media demoralised the Americans at home which was a possible cause for their loss
• The media exposed Diem's brutal regime and how he treated non- Catholics. For example, the image of the self-immolation of the monk showed Americans how Buddhists would rather set themselves on fire than conform.