Posted on 12/29/2005 9:31:18 PM PST by nuconvert
ABC's Woodruff set to broadcast from Iran
Thu Dec 29, 2005
By Paul J. Gough
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC News' "World News Tonight" will kick off its new format Tuesday with co-anchor Bob Woodruff reporting from Iran.
Woodruff, a senior producer, a producer and two crews were scheduled to arrive late Thursday in Tehran. He left New York late Wednesday after anchoring "World News Tonight," bound for Paris and then on to the Iranian capital.
Plans call for Woodruff to report for "World News Tonight" beginning Tuesday, the first official day of his dual anchorship with Elizabeth Vargas. Vargas will anchor "World News Tonight" from New York on Tuesday, while Woodruff will contribute reports from Iran.
Iran has been a thorn in the side of the U.S. for more than a quarter-century, ever since the U.S.-backed monarchy was overthrown and replaced by a theocratic government. Most recently, Iran was named by President Bush as a member nation of the so-called axis of evil and, despite international pressure, has refused to stop its nuclear weapons program.
"It's one of the most important countries in the world right now. It's a regional powerhouse," Woodruff said. "It's a country we need to understand. It's big, it's powerful, it's wealthy, and it's right next to Iraq."
Woodruff has been to Iran, most recently in February. He's also traveled to another member of the so-called axis of evil, North Korea, spending several days there this year.
Woodruff and Jon Banner, executive producer of "World News Tonight," said the trip to Iran wasn't timed for the relaunch of the program but came instead just when all the pieces fell into place.
"It's a big deal," Banner said Thursday. "It's not every day that Western media is allowed into Iran."
Woodruff hoped things go smoother than the last time, when he and his crew were deported soon after they arrived in Tehran because of the bureaucracy. He said they had spent extra time trying to make sure that it wouldn't be the case this time but added that there's always the chance that something could happen when they arrive.
"When you land at 2:30 in the morning, certain ministries aren't awake," Woodruff said.
Woodruff isn't likely to appear live on video for "World News Tonight," though facilities for live TV could be made available through the state-run networks. But there's a question of whether ABC would really want to use them, considering they spent considerable time and money for the ability to broadcast from Iran and not inside a studio.
In June, Woodruff and a crew traveled to North Korea to look behind that country's Iron Curtain. They spent several days in North Korea in a visit that took ABC News years to get permission for.
"It's one of the most important countries in the world right now."
They finally noticed
We start the bombing in five minutes.
Hopefully they'll make her cover her face.
You see, I thought it was Judy, too. And all I could think about were the faces she'd make.
But it's Bob Woodruff, not Judy.
Just like CNN "reported" from Iraq in the 1990's?
Imagine if we had reporters travel to Berlin to "understand" Germany in the mid 1930s...
Well, if you want to be allowed to report in the country in the future, you have to mind your P's and Q's.
Hopefully Woodruff will have a nice view of the mushroom cloud(s).
I'm hoping they keep him.
No doubt his reports will be glowing and positive. Afterall, he is in that group that never met a tyrant they didnt love, or a free country they didnt hate.
He was in Iran couple of months ago and I remember he was talking to bunch of kids there and the poor kids told him they are scared to talk to him and that the regime may detain those who speak against the mullahcracy
He's got a lot to learn.
I'd love to be an overpaid, dandified newsreader who gets to travel the world on someone else's dime, reading someone else's copy.
On second thought, no I wouldn't.
I am glad more people realize this fact.
I wish mor ewould realize that ..Half the US still believes what they hear on the MSM news .
Ah ha!! You didn't read the article... :-)
I would say far less people than that considering the drops in MSM tv ratings and newspaper readerships over the last decade.
I can just imagine what she will have to say. More than likely everything in support of Iran and against the U.S. Nothing has changed but the faces at ABC.
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