Who will forget the heroic story of Jessica Lynch? The young lady who was a member of the American army that was sent to Iraq for what the media claimed to be "a war against terrorism". What an amazing story it made when Iraqi soldiers injured Jessica and nine of her fellow troop members in an attack.
Whilst bravely fighting off the soldiers, Jessica was shot and stabbed numerous times, but continued to fight fiercely. Finally when she was captured, she was taken to a prisoner camp where she was subjected to painful torture methods and other implicated, yet not mentioned horrors.
After the American public were shocked and outraged at this revelation, it was decided that a daring rescue attempt would be made to free Jessica from the horrendous conditions she was living in. After the rescue operation was a success, Jessica was so traumatised by the event that she .
suffered amnesia and was unable to give any accounts of what she had experienced during the capture and her rescue. It was such a touching story, sure to strike the hearts of people from around the world. And it did, for that same story was splashed across headlines all over the world.
It was one of the biggest stories in the war and gained immense amounts of media attention. The world was united in sympathy towards the brave country girl. Imagine their shock when they discover that it was all a lie. Not just an exaggeration or an extension, a despicable lie. .
The media completely altered the reality of this story by adhering to its immoral codes and conventions. They disregarded the truth and created a story that was sure to grasp the viewers, readers and listeners attention: a typical war hero story. .
Not only did the media exploit this story for ratings, but in doing so, managed to manipulate the viewers" perception of the war. This story creates a vicious, cruel aura around the Iraqi soldiers. Suddenly viewers are persuaded to feel that the Iraqis are all brutal, inhumane lunatics and that the war against them is essential and justified.
