Broadcast networks have stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq.
Broadcast networks have stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq.
As violence has subsided and the U.S. focus is shifting to Afghanistan, “America’s three broadcast network news divisions have stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq.” The decision will likely move Iraq even further from the minds of Americans. In 2007, according to television news consultant Andrew Tyndall, the three network evening newscasts devoted 1,888 minutes to Iraq. This past year, through Dec. 19, Iraq received only 423 minutes of coverage. ABC, CBS and NBC refused to speak on the record about their decisions, but the New York Times reports that “the staff cuts appear to be the latest evidence of budget pressures at the networks. According to some executives, Iraq has been “the most expensive war ever for TV news organizations.”
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According to some executives, Iraq has been “the most expensive war ever for TV news organizations.”
TOUGH!!!, since you helped promote it!
December 29th, 2008 at 10:11 amGee, it’s costing them too much money — forget that their drumbeat to invade Iraq has cost over 4200 Americans’ lives, and how many billions?
But now that the American death toll in Iraq is around 20 per month, it is not worth their time and money to report it.
Bastards. Journalism is dead. Without the fourth estate, democracy is in great peril.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:16 amHohum now we can forget all that mess over there and concentrate on American Idol like good little sheep
December 29th, 2008 at 10:25 amNow is when you can get some actually good reporting done… when the Cheney administration is less likely/able to restrict access.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:33 amIMHO, the BEST reporting from Iraq IS and always WAS on the Radio.
NPR’s Lourdes Garcia Navarro & Ivan Watson can get to the story with just a Tape recorder….no bulky and obvious TV Cameras and Crews.
If you want to SEE the results of a Car Bomb…turn on the TV.
If you want to know why and who….turn on NPR.
BTW..PBS relies on Print Reporters to tell the story…John Burns among the Best.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:57 amThe old folks used to say that television would be the fall of this country.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:59 amAfter witnessing our media over the last eight years I am beginning to believe them.
Could this be yet another spin.? Correspondent’s refuse to go to Iraq and war zone’s. No one want’s to die in the bush made up war’s any more..Follow the money do’s not work well when a reporter is dead and can’t spend it…..Blessings
December 29th, 2008 at 11:01 amHow are we going to know what a fantastic success it’s all been then?
December 29th, 2008 at 11:03 amOh yeah, I forgot, General Petraeus and Bill Kristol will tell us all about it.
Happy New Year Witch 1,
I believe this Iraq War has been the Deadliest for Journalists so far.
Much Credit goes to the Iraqi Stringers and Translators and Drivers who risk their lives …and the lives of their Families…to report the News.
America has a Moral Obligation to protect the Iraqis who provide essential assistance to our Reporters and to our Military… by allowing them to immigrate to the US, if their lives are in jeopardy.
We haven’t been doing a very good job of this so far.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:23 amYet another step in the Grand Forgetting is now undertaken.
Down the memory-hole.
Nuttin’ but a skid-mark…
December 29th, 2008 at 11:25 amHappy New Year back at ya Badger, great post’s..Thank you for posting…Blessings
December 29th, 2008 at 11:25 amOl’ Badger, I fear I must disagree…
Edit:
“If you want to know why and who the hegemons and progagandists are blaming, turn on NPR…
“Nationalist Propagandist Radio”
December 29th, 2008 at 11:29 amTokin,
Then explain to me why the American People have turned against this Iraq War so thoroughly.
If we are all subjected to such effective efforts of hegemons and progagandists…then how come McCain lost in a landslide.
No..I can’t agree with you. America finally learned the truth about this War..and since most of us haven’t been to Iraq..it has to be the result of brave journalists and reporters.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:40 amDoes anyone even listen to MSM to get their news? The BBC, CBC, and other European news organization are much better than the corporate propagandist outlets that we have in this country.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:40 amSorry to be OT, but there is a rather annoying brewhaha over at the Gaza post.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:56 amThe MSM cannot cover an illegal war, but has time to shower attention on Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin? Maybe the networks just decided for the rest of us what type of information we should receive. That would explain a lot.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pmStratRat Says:
The MSM cannot cover an illegal war, but has time to shower attention on Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin? Maybe the networks just decided for the rest of us what type of information we should receive. That would explain a lot.
You mean like deciding who to eliminate from the presidential debates way before the first primary vote was even cast?
Naw, the MSM wouldn’t do that would they?
December 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm**sigh**
Their audience is no longer interested.
December 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pmSo much for supporting our troops.
December 29th, 2008 at 2:50 pmWell, I for one think this is great news. I realize This doesn’t fit the template here in happyville. Sounds like there isn’t much to cover that’s going to get the MSM ratings. Sounds like they hope to find it in Afghanistan. Sounds good to me. If the Iraqi’s are beginning to enjoy quieter times, I’m happy for them. I now pray for the same with the people of Afghanistan and Israel.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pmMatters little, MSM is so full of Corporate and RepubliCon propaganda, like Faux News, not worth watching.
December 29th, 2008 at 7:50 pmGee, I guess that means the wars are won. No one is being killed anymore. And it also means that anyone can like McCain
can walk through any market without fear. Oh I forgot. McCain had helicopters and a couple of hundred men protecting him. He said, “it was like walking peacefully anywhere in the world.” I guess he didn’t really lie, we only thought he did.
As for the press not covering the war much. The last I heard none of the networks mentions the war week to week much less every evening. Someone said that ABC sometimes gives it three minutes a week. Death is so boring, especially when it is someone else paying the price. Why send reporters into those nasty places. Why they could be killed. Other country’s like England send them. But we don’t.
After all these years the press has more important things to cover like……hell I’m certain there must be something more important.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:27 am