War Casualties, the Media and the Internet

The toll of Canadian casualties in Afghanistan has been one of the more hotly debated problems in Canadian politics during the last 6 months. As each new casualty report makes its way through radio, television, newspaper and internet channels, the public and politicians feel free to question Canada’s role in the Afghanistan conflict, while the immediate and regimental families deal with the pain of loss. In this first decade of the 21st century, the immediacy of the reports and the graphic details are critical factors that the public has not had to deal with in prior military actions. This detailed reporting, in all forms of media, and the up-to-date coverage of every event has alternately engaged and distanced the Canadian people and provided distinct platforms for political parties.