Integrity of Reporters in Iraq
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, which has had the most extensive ongoing Iraq presence of US networks in recent years, has been beefing up its staff in the country and the region, as have its rivals. But staffing is subject to the whims of the Iraqis, who periodically take issue with Western reporters, prohibiting some from renewing their short-term visas and threatening to expel others, even as they have recently welcomed NBC'S Tom Brokaw and ABC's Ted Koppel."
, which has had the most extensive ongoing Iraq presence of US networks in recent years, has been beefing up its staff in the country and the region, as have its rivals. But staffing is subject to the whims of the Iraqis, who periodically take issue with Western reporters, prohibiting some from renewing their short-term visas and threatening to expel others, even as they have recently welcomed NBC'S Tom Brokaw and ABC's Ted Koppel." Where I take issue with this is in the integrity of the reporters. If they know they can be denied renewal of their visas or sent out of the country, what is to stop them from reporting in a way that makes them a more favorable addition to the news staff in Iraq? It seems very reminiscent of the coverage of the Gulf War in that in order to keep access, media outlets may tend to be less controversial.
posted by Anonymous at 5:34 PM
1 Comments:
No profession can vouch for the integrity of every member. Some reporters will allow their coverage to be shaped by the constraints of the host country, sources, or a number of other conflicting interests. That's why you need many reporters and professional editors who watch out for any tendency towards superficial coverage.
It is dangerous to dismiss the entire press corps. There are a lot of good reporters risking their lives to bring us the news despite the pressures to censor their reporting. That said, the news is a business that needs access to sources. Every story is a compromise that balances the need to report facts with the need to maintain relationships with sources that allow you to follow the story tomorrow.
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