Peter Arnett's Freedom of Speech
Reader comment on item: Iraq: What's Next?

Submitted by William Lucas Jones (United States), Mar 31, 2003 at 19:56

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- NBC announced Monday that both NBC and National Geographic severed their relationships with veteran war correspondent Peter Arnett.
On Sunday, NBC News had issued a statement supporting Arnett, saying that Arnett gave the interview to Iraqi TV as a "professional courtesy" and that his remarks "were analytical in nature and were not intended to be anything more."
But a day later, NBC issued a different statement. "It was wrong for him to grant an interview to state-run Iraqi TV, especially in a time of war."
National Geographic issued a statement that read:
"The Society did not authorize or have any prior knowledge of Arnett's television interview with Iraqi television, and had we been consulted, would not have allowed it."

All of this is very distressing to me. As a result of NBC/Nat’l Geographic’s actions curtailing freedom of speech and freedom of the press, I will now sever all relationships I have had, with them, now and in the future. I will encourage all of my friends and family to do so also.

If I were a practicing "Journalist", I would go on strike until this very fine reporter was restored and those responsible for terminating him, were theirselves, terminated. I sincerely doubt this will happen since there are few real journalists left.

Sincerely,

William Lucas Jones

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