Memorandum for correspondents about combat photography

Item

derivative filename/jpeg
363-06087.pdf
Digital Object Identifier
363-06087
Title
Memorandum for correspondents about combat photography
Description
Memorandum from U.S. Military Assistance Command Information Office (MACOI) to Vietnam War correspondents about combat photography and what photographs should not be published
Transcript
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MACOI
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND, VIETNAM
APO San Francisco 96243
Office of Information
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
25 April 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS
COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHY
1. The most personally sentitive information in any war is that pertaining
to casualties. This is particularly true with respect to the notification of next
of kin. It is for this reason that the services have been directed to insure that
an officer of the service concerned personally delivers the first notification to
the next of kin of a U. S. casualty.
2. During the war in Vietnam there have been instances in which the next of
kin first have learned of the death or injury of a loved one through news media
coverage. Such instances almost invariably involve visual media. Casualty photo-
graphs can show a recognizable face, name tag, distinctive item of jewelry or other
identifying feature or items of apparel, Next of kin must learn about casualties
first through official channels. The anguish that sudden recognition through unof-
ficial news sources can cause is, without exception, out of all proportion to the
"news value" of any commercial news photograph or film.
3. The casualty reporting and notification systems of the services are in
effect around the clock and use high priority communications. Names of casualties
whose next of kin have been notified can be verified by the MACV Information Office
or by the Directorate of Information Services in the Office of the Assistant Secre-
tary of Defense (Public Affairs).
4. An equally important consideration is the fact that a man recently wounded
usually is in a state of shock and often is under the effects of pain suppressants.
Therefore, he is not normal in his actions, not in the mental condition to remember
or be concerned about his right of privacy and not in the physical condition to pro-
tect himself. This situation places the burden of responsibility on the media to
respect the right of privacy and to observe the principles of propriety and good
taste. A man who has been hurt has the right to suffer in private.
5. In the war in Vietnam complete reliance has been placed on news media re-
presentatives. There has been no effort to impose restrictions on movement of au-
dio-visual correspondents in the field or to require in country processing, review
and editing of audio-visual material produced by accredited correspondents. We
hope to preserve these freedoms and ask that correspondents cooperate by:
a. Not taking close-up pictures of casualties that show faces or anything
else that will identify the individual.
b. Not interviewing or recording the voices of casualties until a medical
officer determines that the man is physically and mentally able, and the individual
gives permission.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Date
1966, Apr. 25
Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Government and the press; Journalists; Freedom of the press; Censorship; United States. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Office of Information; War photography
Location
Saigon, South Vietnam
Coordinates
10.8231; 106.6311
Size
20 x 26 cm
Container
B190, F8
Format
memorandums
Collection Number
MS 363
Collection Title
Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
Creator
United States. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Office of Information
Collector
Keever, Beverly Deepe
Copyright Information
These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
Publisher
Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
Language
English