How TV performed bringing the war home.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Jonathan Storm

Television's most heavily reported story of the Iraq war focused on a single person, Jessica Lynch. Although her rescue illuminated the daring and ingenuity of the U.S. military, it did not affect the conduct or outcome of the war.

But it was the perfect story for what should be called "The TV War," a production that demonstrated without question that when the nation's two biggest exports, aerospace equipment and show business, come together, useful and informative news gets left behind.

Though removed by 10,000 miles in location and 100 years in the technology of its telling, the saga of the plucky 19-year-old private was a rehash of that cliche of silent movies, easily understood and embraced by all, when the virtuous heroine tied to the railroad tracks was swept away from the onrushing locomotive by the brave hero.

"Jessica's Rescue" demonstrated the principle that the Pentagon expected would apply when it allowed reporters to tag along with the troops: The thirst for visceral storytelling would overwhelm the higher journalistic goal of in-depth, ...