Commentary by MTSU Professor: Uncovering the Media's Role in Keeping Atomic Secrets

Aug 06, 2024 at 12:07 am by WGNS News


Commentary: Every August, news stories mark the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by interviewing survivors and discussing the societal impact. However, they rarely discuss how the secret of the atomic bomb was kept from the American public during World War II. From what some call a government-controlled war on information through the Office of War Information and the Office of Censorship, to the media – with more here is Dr. Larry Burriss in Journalism at MTSU… Hear more from Dr. Burriss HERE.  

About Dr. Burriss - Larry Burriss, professor of journalism, teaches introductory and media law courses. At the graduate level he teaches quantitative research methods and media law. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University (B.A. in broadcast journalism, M.A. in journalism), the University of Oklahoma (M.A. in human relations), Ohio University (Ph.D. in journalism) and Concord Law School (J.D.). He has worked in print and broadcast news and public relations, and has published extensively in both academic and popular publications. He has won first place in the Tennessee Associated Press Radio Contest nine times. Dr. Burriss' publications and presentations include studies of presidential press conferences, NASA photography, radio news, legal issues related to adolescent use of social networking sites, legal research, and Middle Earth.

Dr. Burriss has served as director of the School of Journalism, dean of the College of Mass Communication and president of the MTSU Faculty Senate. He was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents. He was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and served on active duty in Mali, Somalia, Bosnia, Central America, Europe and the Pentagon.

Tags: anniversary atomic age atomic bomb censorship commentary Dwight Ogleton editorial government control Hiroshima Larry Burriss media media control military information Nagasaki news media Office of Censorship Office of War Information op-ed opinion secrecy World War II
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