The Vietnam War (1962–1975) was the first televised war. In the early years, anti-war protesters were mocked by the media and regarded by the public as unpatriotic. However, in 1968, the media’s uncensored coverage of the fierce military campaign known as the Tet Offensive turned public opinion against the war. As never before, Americans witnessed the brutal realities of war and its effects on the lives of soldiers and the Vietnamese people.

You will be assigned topics that reflect the issues surrounding the role of the media during the Vietnam War. Use what you have learned to write a Research Report addressing the impact of media coverage on public opinion and policy. To prepare for your report, you will research how media coverage, protest movements, and the events of the war created a shift in public opinion.

Look at the photograph below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Vietnam, 1966: A U.S. Marine Corps tank on the move.

• What does this photograph convey about the setting of the Vietnam War?
• How might televised images of war have affected viewers?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research the influence of media coverage on public opinion during the Vietnam War effort in the 1960s. Examine the Timeline and the Map. As you read, keep your assigned topic in mind. Remember that your report will need to include evidence to support your thesis.

Use the Cause and Effect Chart to organize your information. Title the Chart Media Coverage of War. To the left, write details about the reasons why the media depicted the war as it did. To the right, write details about the social and political results of the media’s war coverage.

Write your Research Report. Organize your information around a logical, clear thesis that addresses the influence of the media on public opinion and policy. Include details about the nature of the war, the protest movement, and specific events in the war.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you present a clear and logical thesis?
• Did you provide specific historical facts to support your thesis?
• Did you identify the cause and effect of various movements and ideas?
• Did you follow rules of grammar and style?