Posted on 02/01/2005 2:16:20 PM PST by Dales
At a discussion moderated by David R. Gergen, the Director for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, the concept of truth, fairness, and balance in the news was weighed against corporate profit interest, the need for ratings, and how the media can affect democracy. The panel included Richard Sambrook, the worldwide director of BBC radio, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Abdullah Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, and Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive of CNN. The audience was a mix of journalists, WEF attendees (many from Arab countries), and a US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd.
During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but they had in fact been targeted. He repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience (the anti-US crowd) and cause great strain on others.
Due to the nature of the forum, I was able to directly challenge Eason, asking if he had any objective and clear evidence to backup these claims, because if what he said was true, it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park. David Gergen was also clearly disturbed and shocked by the allegation that the U.S. would target journalists, foreign or U.S. He had always seen the U.S. military as the providers of safety and rescue for all reporters.
Eason seemed to backpedal quickly, but his initial statements were backed by other members of the audience (one in particular who represented a worldwide journalist group). The ensuing debate was (for lack of better words) a real "sh--storm". ...
(Excerpt) Read more at forumblog.org ...
Who said he won't do just that?
"Fragging" in Viet Nam involved disaffected troops MURDERING their officers. I had a friend mistakenly killed when the target was someone else. It was never "in vogue", and its passing sure as hell isn't sad. What tripe!
Charges should be brought. Criminals, like Eason Jordan, WILL NOT STOP. Domestic enemies are much harder to defeat than foreign enemies.
There has not been any real journalist around for years and years.
Why initiate an investigation into bogus claims. The fact that there is an investigation will bring more media coverage and taint our soldiers.
I think we should be justly outraged that a media ghoul should, in addition to constantly promoting anti-American hatred, now accuse our soldiers of risking their lives in order to kill Americans.
This is like telling a lie and then treating it as the truth by giving it credibility.
My brother had a CNN journalist walk up to him over there and he said "I am not talking to you and you know why."
self ping
I think Mr. Eason needs to be summarily dismissed as a person of integrity and character. Obviously he does not support his own country, if he is willing to support such a wildly disgusting assertion.
I mean .. after all .. this was the same idiot who was running the CNN office in Iraq for 12 years - and hiding Saddam's horrible treatment of his own people. Surely, that would prove his comments about anything to be suspect.
bttt
Oh, that's right, CBS doesn't care about journalistic ethics. Nothing more important than protecting the old-boy network.
Just when I think I can't get any more disgusted...please, why do our soldiers have to take this kind of (insert very foul word/s here!)? It just makes my blood boil! I'd like to take that reporter and shake him 'til his teeth rattle.
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