Newsweek -- Reporters Before They are Americans

Media Research Center Cyberalert ^ | October 10, 2001 | Media Research Center

[Dark Wing]

The clip below is from an Oct 10, 2001 MRC special section on terrorism:

Contrast Hoyt’s attitude to the one expressed by CBS’s Mike Wallace and ABC’s 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

Let’s hope neither Wallace or Jennings are given an opportunity to travel with any enemy troops or cells.

[Tax Government]

Newsweek victims should sue for damages, citing:

1) N.'s willful negligence;

2) N.'s desire to create a furore to boost its circulation, not restraining itself by the facts;

3) N.'s ignoring of the consequences of its actions; and

4) N.'s incitement of violence that led to injury and death.

The fact that Newsweek is a "news" org does not shield it from responsibility for the consequences of its actions.

[BigFinn]

[artifax]

Wish I'd said that...now all I can do is agree!

[goldstategop]

Fortunately the legacy media's circulation and ratings continue going down the toilet. I consider Newsweek's faux pas a case of deserved poetic justice.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[ScoopandDizzy]

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

[Enterprise]

Drudge said that at first Newsweek claimed "sources" and now it is "source."

[taxesareforever]

And they still wonder why we don't give them respect.

[Zarro]

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.

[Bullish]

Actually, we're the ones that THEY don't give any respect.

And I'm talking about all of the American people. They think we're all a bunch of gullible sheep.

[FreeKeys]

[1FreeAmerican]

Someone ought to ask these morons whether or not they would expose an ambush if their son/daughter/brother/sister was about to be blown to bit's, or would they be reporters first??
These a**holes don't understand that the reason they are "free" to report anything at all is because they are Americans first.

[Kermit Morningstar]

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.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

MSM, they are truly disgusting and foul creatures.

[conshack]

Let’s 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!!

[Political Junkie Too]

I remember posting back in 2001 that, even though these reporters claim that the are "reporters first, Americans second," they forget that it is the American Constitution that allows them to be reporters at all. And, it is the American courts that they turn to when looking to protect their sources, and the American military that defends them, and the American public that pays them.

-PJ

[taxesareforever]

They think we're all a bunch of gullible sheep.

I would say they think we are a bunch of idiots. They are the wolves in sheeps clothing.

[JasonC]

Try - communists before they are reporters. They didn't care a fig about sourcing or whether the story were true, only that is might perhaps damage the United States. Which is agitprop, and has nothing to do with being a reporter.

[expatguy]

"Words Don't Kill People, People Kill People"

[JasonC]

And commies tell people to kill people. "The accomplish is no better than the assassin. The theorist is worse." - Lord Acton