[thechat] reporter fired for reporting

Hugh Blair hblair at hotfootmail.com
Mon Mar 31 15:36:25 CST 2003


> Erik wrote:
>
> On the other hand, the "embedded" reporters are only allowed to do
> what they're told and are not even allowed to use satellite phones.

Note: "not even allowed to use satellite phones."
This is a black and white statement, and is false.

> No, just incomplete
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/30011.html

>From your source:
"U.S. military commanders in Iraq have banned the use of certain 
satellite phones carried by journalists..."

See the word "certain"? 

>From the same source: "Several Reuters reporters with U.S. forces 
in Iraq said on Sunday they had been told to switch their Thuraya 
satellite phones off. One said his phone was being confiscated."
...
" In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said the restrictions on 
Thurayas were not "a theatre-wide prohibition"."
...
" Iridium satellite phones download their user location and billing 
data to the United States."..." Iridium handsets are used by the U.S. 
military. (With additional reporting by Eric Auchard)" 

> Some sat phones are being prohibited.

Then don't say "not even allowed to use satellite phones." if
that's not the case. Truth, the first thing to suffer.

> Also likely, Hugh, is that some of your sources are now out of date.

The above statement was written Erik _before_ this ban was
put in place and reported in the press. At that time, and now,
in it's current form, it's incorrect.

hb



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