Article

2005-08-15 International-UN-NGOs

Local Newspaper Editors slam AP about Iraq reporting

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Posted by Sherry 2005-08-15 13:27|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 They wanted them to get beyond the breaking news to 'What does this mean?' "

Is this guy brain damaged or what? Hey Stupid! We don't want you to tell us what it means, we want your reporters to report something other than readily available accident stats.

Pity the poor reporters and editors. They've come to view themselves as purveyors of wisdom - the keepers of the truth which only they can properly explain to their unwashed patrons.

Must be a bummer to realize that not only do your patrons not give a darn what you think but if you don't provide them with what THEY want, you aren't going to have a job much longer. Now shut up and ~~sing~~ report.

Posted by 2b 2005-08-15 13:57|| 2005-08-15 13:57|| Front Page Top

#2 I know a quick, painless, inexpensive and effective way of improving the quality of their reporting 10,000%. Simply accredit military personnel as journalists. In multiple units and at multiple levels of command there are already approved Public Information Officers whose *function* it is to prepare and provide press releases. But, on top of that, there are now around 200 soldiers who act as "stringers" with their blogs. If you put the two together, you not only get "play-by-play", you also get "color", all wrapped together in about a ream of editable copy a day. It has already been pre-approved for publication, so there isn't any tactical information in there. The best part, from the point of view of the wire services, would be that while a goodly amount of it is free, any nominal payments for "stringer" material could be made to non-profit organizations on behalf of the bloggers. Say the "widows and orphans" funds, so there is no "conflict of interest". Instantly, the credibility of the media skyrockets; the quality of their news attracts readers; and professional journalists on location get real muscle and respect, based on all the "amateurs" "working" for them. They can stay in the Green Zone, having reliable eyes and ears all over the country.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-15 14:20|| 2005-08-15 14:20|| Front Page Top

#3 excellent point moose. But I don't think they will do it until they hit rock bottom.

Posted by 2b 2005-08-15 14:32|| 2005-08-15 14:32|| Front Page Top

#4 "The main obstacle we face," he said, "is the severe limitation on our movement and our ability to get out and report. It's very confining for our staff to go into Baghdad and have to spend most of their time on the fifth floor of the Palestine Hotel," which is home to most of the press corps.

Excepting Michael Yon and others who don't have a problem being around US soldiers.

The hotel was struck by a tank shell in 2003, killing two journalists.

Two years ago. During active fighting. When the building was being used to spot artillery onto our troops.

The only people who care about the two numb-nuts who aimed a camera at a tank battle are reporters, who take it on faith that the US purposefully kills reporters. Ignoring, in the meantime, the reporters killed by the terrorists or killed while aiding terrorists.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2005-08-15 14:35|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-08-15 14:35|| Front Page Top

#5 Postwar Iraq is fraught with risks for reporters...

Yeah, not like that WWII gravy train we rode, right, boys? I'm real proud of ya...

Posted by Ernie Pyle 2005-08-15 14:56|| 2005-08-15 14:56|| Front Page Top

#6 This story is gut turning in it's outright bald faced lies. The AP and is members want the US to lose, they are willing to do everything they can to see the US lose. They hate George Bush so much they don't care how many US service men they help kill just like Viet Nam. The only thing lower than a lawyer is a "journalist" I thank God my child didn't choose either profession. Useless parasites.

Posted by Sock Puppet 0â Doom 2005-08-15 15:19|| 2005-08-15 15:19|| Front Page Top

#7 For example, she said, the editors understood that it was much easier to add up the number of dead than to determine how many hospitals received power on a particular day or how many schools were built.

Maybe because you can sit on your ass at the hotel and just RETRANSMITS CENTCOM releases on casualties rather than actually work for living. What part of news GATHERING evades your imagination?

"The main obstacle we face," he said, "is the severe limitation on our movement and our ability to get out and report. It's very confining for our staff to go into Baghdad and have to spend most of their time on the fifth floor of the Palestine Hotel,"...

Then take a hint from Rummey - Hire Out!
If grandmothers are signed up to drive trucks in convoys for Haliburton, then you should be able to find independents [who are not former Saddam government officials or members of AQ] who will actually do the fundamentals of going outside the Green Zone and collect stories. However, that presupposes that you actually want those stories.

Posted by Jirt Omager7355 2005-08-15 15:47|| 2005-08-15 15:47|| Front Page Top

#8 Jirt, they really shouldn't hire any more stringers. For some reason, they always manage to find former Baathists or guys who have brothers in the terrorists' ranks.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2005-08-15 16:06|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-08-15 16:06|| Front Page Top

#9 This is pretty funny. It sounds like the locals are starting to feel push back in their circulation numbers, but AP just can't get it. This must have been what it was like when the captain assembled a committee to design the new deck chair arrangement for the Titanic.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-08-15 16:11|| 2005-08-15 16:11|| Front Page Top

#10 The hotel was struck by a tank shell in 2003, killing two journalists.

"Every time we point something that looks from a distance like an RPG at a tank, the tank starts shooting at us. Those tank guys must be pretty slow learners."

Posted by Matt 2005-08-15 16:41|| 2005-08-15 16:41|| Front Page Top

#11 All those troops rotating back watch and read the news and are asking questions. And they are talking to family, friends and neighbors.

Posted by Steve">Steve 2005-08-15 16:45|| 2005-08-15 16:45|| Front Page Top

#12 Anonymoose's idea sounds like there's a real opportunity here.

I understand that it was Gulf War I that kicked CNN into the stratosphere - because they were there and had a jump on the competition.

If the local's are feeling the pinch as Mrs. Davis surmises, and we *know* that military people on rotation are helping to get the meme across that Iraq is not all doom and gloom, then there is certainly an opportunity to get the message out.

I would add to Anymoose's idea by having direct feeds to bloggers and blogging groups setup as well. That way there is some level of competition with the wire services such as AP. Then the locals at least have a choice..

Posted by Tony (UK) 2005-08-15 17:06|| 2005-08-15 17:06|| Front Page Top

#13 "also trying to keep our people out of harm's way."

Why yes, hence the order that reporters were only to use booths, not barstools....

Posted by Pappy 2005-08-15 18:45|| 2005-08-15 18:45|| Front Page Top

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