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Posted on 06/27/2002 1:26:51 PM PDT by white trash redneck
Television news executives and observers say they are troubled by CNN's new policy of not broadcasting comments by suicide bombers or their families.
But Eason Jordan, who heads CNN's news-gathering, said the policy is meant only to be a "safeguard" and was not in response to criticism in Israel of CNN's Mideast coverage.
Jordan has instructed staff not to air or report suicide-bombers' statements "unless there seemingly is an extraordinarily compelling reason to do so."
The edict was made after CNN faced press criticism in Israel for airing an interview late last month with the mother of a Palestinian suicide bomber several hours before an on-air talk with the relatives of the Israeli victims.
CNN executives said the delay was a "logistical" mistake, and Jordan publicly apologized for it during a trip to Israel this week.
But instituting a stringent policy after such a mishap could set a dangerous precedent, according to Alex S. Jones, director of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University.
"The point of CNN is news," he said. "It's not a great marketing ploy when you start telling people what you're going to not report. It may satisfy one group, but it may prompt others to get similar declarations. It makes news something that can be negotiated instead of being reported."
"It creates a perception that they are backing off," added Charles Bierbauer, a former CNN correspondent who will soon become the dean of the mass communications school at the University of South Carolina.
A veteran network TV news executive believed the policy undermines CNN's strength as an evenhanded international news service.
"It's always been talked about as a great asset that CNN is seen by all governments throughout the world, but it can be a liability to them if pressures are put on their coverage," he said.
Another executive suggested that the policy could have a "chilling" effect on CNN reporters who attempt to do a story that could be perceived as sympathetic to the Palestinians.
But Jordan said his policy is by no means a blanket ban on reporting the views of suicide bombers.
"This policy is not meant to ban suicide bombers or their families from CNN," he said. "We don't want any breakdown in the system that would allow comments of suicide bombers or those who praise them to be casually used in a news program. It's no different from our policy on statements from Al Qaeda. … We don't want to give those views the prominence and attention we give to the victims."
Jordan said he has discussed the policy with producers and correspondents handling the situation in the Mideast, including Christiane Amanpour, who is known for her coverage of the plight of Palestinian refugees.
"After hearing why the policy has been put into place, they get it," he said. "It's logical."
Amanpour was not available for comment.
Jordan said the policy was also unrelated to CNN's current negotiations to remain on Israeli cable systems.
That's precisely why these comments should not be broadcast. The fact that these savages hate Western Civilization in general and Jews in particular is simply not news.
Now, if the surviving family and acquaintances of some homicide bomber were to state that (for example) the deceased was driven mad by teasing about his dull wits, impotence, and foul body odor, then that would be news and should be repeatedly broadcast to the four corners of the earth.
BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA! I just blew milk out of my nose all over the keyboard. This has to be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time!
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