Posted on 05/15/2005 9:07:53 PM PDT by Dark Wing
The clip below is from an Oct 10, 2001 MRC special section on terrorism:
Contrast Hoyts attitude to the one expressed by CBSs Mike Wallace and ABCs Peter Jennings during a 1989 forum on PBS. The two network stars agreed that if they were traveling with enemy troops and learned of an ambush planned to kill U.S. soldiers they would not provide any warning.
A reprint from the April 1989 MediaWatch, a monthly newsletter then-published by the MRC:
Peter Jennings and Mike Wallace Agree Reporters First, Americans Second
In a future war involving U.S. soldiers what would a TV reporter do if he learned the enemy troops with which he was traveling were about to launch a surprise attack on an American unit? That's just the question Harvard University professor Charles Ogletree Jr, as moderator of PBS' Ethics in America series, posed to ABC anchor Peter Jennings and 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace. Both agreed getting ambush footage for the evening news would come before warning the U.S. troops.
For the March 7 installment on battlefield ethics Ogletree set up a theoretical war between the North Kosanese and the U.S.-supported South Kosanese. At first Jennings responded: "If I was with a North Kosanese unit that came upon Americans, I think I personally would do what I could to warn the Americans."
Wallace countered that other reporters, including himself, "would regard it simply as another story that they are there to cover." Jennings' position bewildered Wallace: "I'm a little bit of a loss to understand why, because you are an American, you would not have covered that story."
"Don't you have a higher duty as an American citizen to do all you can to save the lives of soldiers rather than this journalistic ethic of reporting fact?" Ogletree asked. Without hesitating Wallace responded: "No, you don't have higher duty... you're a reporter." This convinces Jennings, who concedes, "I think he's right too, I chickened out."
Ogletree turns to Brent Scrowcroft, now the National Security Adviser, who argues "you're Americans first, and you're journalists second." Wallace is mystified by the concept, wondering "what in the world is wrong with photographing this attack by North Kosanese on American soldiers?" Retired General William Westmoreland then points out that "it would be repugnant to the American listening public to see on film an ambush of an American platoon by our national enemy."
A few minutes later Ogletree notes the "venomous reaction" from George Connell, a Marine Corps Colonel. "I feel utter contempt. Two days later they're both walking off my hilltop, they're two hundred yards away and they get ambushed. And they're lying there wounded. And they're going to expect I'm going to send Marines up there to get them. They're just journalists, they're not Americans."
Wallace and Jennings agree, "it's a fair reaction." The discussion concludes as Connell says: "But I'll do it. And that's what makes me so contemptuous of them. And Marines will die, going to get a couple of journalists."
END Reprint
Lets hope neither Wallace or Jennings are given an opportunity to travel with any enemy troops or cells.
Wish I'd said that...now all I can do is agree!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
How recently did Jennings become a US citizen?
Some blogs on the Newsweek story tonight:
http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2005/05/newsweek-apologizes-for-phony-koran.html
http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/archives/004437.html
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/002459.htm
Drudge said that at first Newsweek claimed "sources" and now it is "source."
And they still wonder why we don't give them respect.
They're not Americans. Nor are they reporters. A "reporter" would REPORT. These slimeballs fabricate. They twist and bend and distort. They omit important information and exaggerate where they need to in order to work their agenda.
No, they're not reporters, either. May they rot.
And I'm talking about all of the American people. They think we're all a bunch of gullible sheep.
This is a good point. The 1st Amendment only prohibits passing legislation to limit the press, and says nothing about civil liability. I think there would be a good case here.
MSM, they are truly disgusting and foul creatures.
Lets hope neither Wallace or Jennings are given an opportunity to travel with any enemy troops or cells.
This statement doesn't make any sense. jennings and Wallace ARE the enemy!!
-PJ
I would say they think we are a bunch of idiots. They are the wolves in sheeps clothing.
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