The Branch Davidians and The Media

    Jeff Guinn’s visit to our class on October 21st was almost a surreal experience for me. I don’t think that I have ever met an author of a book in person, let alone someone who is so knowledgeable on a historical event that not many of us know about. I had never heard of the Branch Davidians and I almost feel ashamed because Waco is considered our backyard compared to the vast lands of Texas. I really appreciated that he was just stating facts rather than trying to sway the class into one way of thinking. He left us to critically think and decide for ourselves how we feel about the situation and the parties involved. One of the first things that Mr. Guinn mentioned is that 1993 was the first time in American history that there was television coverage. The group presenting after posed a question that stated “how do you think media played a role and is media more political now?” This question stood out to me, and I want to spend some time discussing it. 

    I believe that media coverage at that time consisted of intense coverage and public pressure. Due to the broadcast being live for the first time, it turned the siege into a national spectacle. The continuous coverage created public pressure on the government to act decisively. This could have influenced the FBI to have more aggressive tactics. This broadcasting also seemed to frame the Branch Davidians as a group of fanatics or a dangerous cult without understanding. This framing may have made it easier for the public to side with government actions and overlook the human cost. The sensational headlines that were used may have also boosted TV ratings, but sometimes sacrificed accuracy and empathy like what occurs nowadays. After the fire that killed many people, the media faced criticism (and rightfully so) for fueling hysteria rather than investigating deeper questions of religious freedom or government accountability.

    I believe that the media nowadays is definitely more political. In 1990s, the media was only dominated by a few major networks and newspapers, starting with CNN as cable news. That meant that most Americans consumed the same news sources, leading to shared narratives, even if imperfect. Today, the media is highly fragmented. Many news sources associate themselves as being more “democratic” or “republican.” This leads to people listening to the channels and the news that they want to hear and sides with their opinion. In addition, social media platforms amplify confirmation bias, spreading misinformation and emotional content faster than verified reports. To further exacerbate the situation, opinion based journalism and commentary often overshadow straightforward reporting. Therefore, it is our job to do our due diligence in our research because our actions and way of thinking affect others around us like in the case of the Branch Davidians.