NBC, ABC Pull Reporters From Baghdad
NBC, ABC Pull Reporters From Baghdad After President Bush Makes Comments Indicating Looming War
The Associated Press
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NEW YORK March 17 —
ABC and NBC ordered its reporters out of Baghdad on Monday, concerned for their safety in the event of war with Iraq.
CNN has also sent a reporter out of the city, but is keeping two others there, Nic Robertson and Rym Brahimi. CBS reporter Lara Logan is remaining in the city.
ABC reporter Dan Harris and his producer were told by ABC News President David Westin early Monday to leave the city.
"I think the safety of the journalists come first," said ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider. "Obviously, we all want to cover that particular story and the larger story aggressively and we will."
NBC reporters Ron Allen and Patricia Sabga, along with their four-person crew, were also sent out of Baghdad, spokeswoman Barbara Levin said.
NBC and its cable news network, MSNBC, may have access to reporting by former CNN correspondent Peter Arnett, who is in Baghdad on assignment from the MSNBC series, "National Geographic Explorer." Arnett's reporting from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War was among the most dramatic and controversial of that conflict.
CBS is constantly monitoring Logan's situation. She has taken some steps in Baghdad to increase her safety, spokeswoman Sandra Genelius said.
Fox News Channel was expelled from the city last month by the Iraqi government.
CNN has sent a reporter who works primarily for CNN's Spanish-speaking network out of Baghdad because of that person's lack of experience in the area. Robertson and Brahimi are staying for now, said Eason Jordan, CNN's chief news executive.
"It's minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour," Jordan said.
A problem for foreign journalists is that Iraq has forced them to work from Baghdad's ministry of information building. The site is considered vulnerable to attack, since it houses Iraqi state television and has anti-aircraft guns, Jordan said.
Perhaps as early as President Bush's address to the nation Monday, the CNN correspondents will begin reporting from elsewhere in the city for their safety, he said.
But Iraq has prohibited foreign reporters from televising live reports from outside the ministry of information. CNN will not challenge that authority, even if war breaks out, he said.
"That would be a life-threatening risk," Jordan said.
A week ago, there were 450 foreign journalists in Baghdad. On Monday, the number was down to 300, Iraq's Information Ministry said.
NBC, ABC Pull Reporters From Baghdad After President Bush Makes Comments Indicating Looming War
The Associated Press
Print This Page
Email This Page
See Most Sent
• Inside U.S. Army's Mobile Command Post
• How You Can Benefit from Record Low Mortgage Rates
• Infant Lung Infection Treatments May Not Work
NEW YORK March 17 —
ABC and NBC ordered its reporters out of Baghdad on Monday, concerned for their safety in the event of war with Iraq.
CNN has also sent a reporter out of the city, but is keeping two others there, Nic Robertson and Rym Brahimi. CBS reporter Lara Logan is remaining in the city.
ABC reporter Dan Harris and his producer were told by ABC News President David Westin early Monday to leave the city.
"I think the safety of the journalists come first," said ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider. "Obviously, we all want to cover that particular story and the larger story aggressively and we will."
NBC reporters Ron Allen and Patricia Sabga, along with their four-person crew, were also sent out of Baghdad, spokeswoman Barbara Levin said.
NBC and its cable news network, MSNBC, may have access to reporting by former CNN correspondent Peter Arnett, who is in Baghdad on assignment from the MSNBC series, "National Geographic Explorer." Arnett's reporting from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War was among the most dramatic and controversial of that conflict.
CBS is constantly monitoring Logan's situation. She has taken some steps in Baghdad to increase her safety, spokeswoman Sandra Genelius said.
Fox News Channel was expelled from the city last month by the Iraqi government.
CNN has sent a reporter who works primarily for CNN's Spanish-speaking network out of Baghdad because of that person's lack of experience in the area. Robertson and Brahimi are staying for now, said Eason Jordan, CNN's chief news executive.
"It's minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour," Jordan said.
A problem for foreign journalists is that Iraq has forced them to work from Baghdad's ministry of information building. The site is considered vulnerable to attack, since it houses Iraqi state television and has anti-aircraft guns, Jordan said.
Perhaps as early as President Bush's address to the nation Monday, the CNN correspondents will begin reporting from elsewhere in the city for their safety, he said.
But Iraq has prohibited foreign reporters from televising live reports from outside the ministry of information. CNN will not challenge that authority, even if war breaks out, he said.
"That would be a life-threatening risk," Jordan said.
A week ago, there were 450 foreign journalists in Baghdad. On Monday, the number was down to 300, Iraq's Information Ministry said.