New York Stock Exchange Bars Al-Jazeera Reporter

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | March 24, 2003 | Reuters

[Servant of the Nine]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Stock Exchange banned an al Jazeera reporter from its trading floor on Monday, saying it was restricting access to "responsible" networks, as the Arab satellite television channel faces criticism in the United States for its coverage of the war in Iraq.

"We've had to focus our efforts on networks that focus on responsible business coverage," said NYSE spokesman Ray Pellecchia, declining to comment further.

He described the Al-Jazeera ban as "indefinite."

Several other news organizations have also been denied entry to the exchange's downtown Manhattan trading floor in the past few weeks, Pellecchia said, though he declined to name them.

"Because of current security precautions, we have had to decline recent requests from broadcasters," Pellecchia said. Before Monday's ban, Al-Jazeera reported regularly from the world's largest stock exchange.

Al-Jazeera could not immediately be reached for comment.

The TV station, based in Qatar, has come under criticism for using Iraqi TV footage in its coverage of the war, including pictures of U.S. prisoners of war and Iraqi casualties. It has angered many in the United States before by broadcasting tapes of statements from Osama bin Laden.

"We believe in freedom of speech and freedom of the media," Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Reuters. "It (the ban) would set a bad precedent, merely because of which area of the world they cover."

[A CA Guy]

Great move, that was a homocide bomber waiting to probably happen anyway.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I see that too. It's undecipherable. Maybe he was thinking of what he wanted to order at KFC while he was talking.

[george wythe]

Who owns the channel almost NEVER matters. All that matters is who's in charge of putting stuff on the air.

Good analysis.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ha, and everyone thought it was a bad day at the market today. They just went up a few points with me.

[STD]

Rupert Murdoch is calling, your network is bankrupt! We have real money for your fledgling operation. I've been asked to facilitate it's sale. Bring me the principles. I can help you sell your losing situation. Hell, if we can try to purchase the Turkey thing, can't we pony up the vig on Al-Jism?

[GirlShortstop]

I see that too. It's undecipherable. Maybe he was thinking of what he wanted to order at KFC while he was talking.

LOL!    "...and a large orange drink!"

[denydenydeny]

"We believe in freedom of speech and freedom of the media"

Except, of course, where the Sharia applies.

[Dazedcat]

"This is great news and an awesome start. Next mission... Deport all ME illegals and close the borders to all those wishing to enter from hostile countries."

Isn't it remarkable that this hasn't happened yet? Makes you wonder why. Nice post, I agree with you. It's a shame those "conservative" republicans evidentally don't share your view.

There's nothing wrong with having a sensible, rational immigration policy. It's called protecting national sovernity I think.

[DWC]

Dick Grasso is a politically correct individual who told the members, including me of the NYSE, that they have been checked and are not any problem. But the members told the exchange after what had happened this weekend, we want these people out of here. Thus they were thrown out. LOL.

[Anamensis]

"Blah blah blah blah," Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Reuters.

Tough titty, kitty. God I hate the CAIR jerk. Wish he'd go stand in front of an IDF bulldozer.

[FreeTheHostages]

Excellent!! First Amendment doesn't apply to NYSE. They can limit the number of reporters anyway. It's a good thing.

[longtermmemmory]

This is war for real. Why should we give access to our institutions to those who aid and comfort our enemy? Information is a weapon of war.

[Petronski]

It (the ban) would set a bad precedent, merely because of which area of the world they cover.

No no, Mr. Hooper. They weren't banned because of the area of the world they cover. They were banned because they are filthy lickspittle propagandists filled with sneering contempt for everything the Exchange represents.

[Minty]

Finally some common sense!

[OldFriend]

Taking a page from Rudy who threw Arafat out of Carnegie Hall!

[Humidston]

HEY IBRAHIM, GO STUFF YOUR FACE WITH A BUSHEL OF TWINKIES AND LEAVE THE U.S. ALONE!

[RummyChick]

dude, you gotta boot CNN

[longtermmemmory]

So we have two NY's? One condems war with the city counsel, the other ...

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I love FR! I have found myself yelling at the TV every time that Ibrahim Hooper's fat disgusting face was on there and I felt like I was the only one to see past his having some honest problem with whatever issue he was preaching about to having a concerted and, I feel in my bones, an outright evil intention to damage the United States.

Looks like a number of other people where watching the same coverage.

[maxwellp]

How about a "standing ovation" to the NYSE. Well done NYSE.