"We didn't see what happened after mortars landed, only the puff of smoke. There were horrors that were completely left out of this war. So was this journalism? Or was this coverage?"

This quote by Ashleigh Banfield is a reflection on the nature of battle journalism. She concerns whether the insurance coverage of war is really journalism or if it is simply a disinfected version of the truth. She explains that the media usually falls short to catch the full extent of the horrors of war, such as the after-effects of mortar strikes. She implies that the media usually fails to catch the complete reality of battle, neglecting one of the most gruesome information. This quote functions as a tip that war journalism must strive to be more than simply a puff of smoke, but instead a complete and honest account of the events that take place.