Reporters Without Borders calls on the U.S. to guarantee that the media can work freely and in safety
Reporters Without Borders today warned U.S. authorities not to obstruct the media in its reporting of the expected imminent war in Iraq.
It expressed concern that the U.S. military might censor journalists officially allowed to work among U.S. forces and that those who opted to work independently would not be protected. It also called on U.S. forces not to destroy Iraqi media facilities.
The press freedom organisation welcomed the U.S. invitation to more than 600 journalists from all over the world to report from inside the military operation. This policy of "embedding," presented by officials as giving journalists access unprecedented since the Vietnam war, would theoretically provide better coverage than was allowed during the 1991 Gulf War, it said.
But it queried whether the obligatory written promise to obey a strict 50 point
"ground rules agreement" would allow these journalists enough freedom and independence in their reporting.
Reporters Without Borders today warned U.S. authorities not to obstruct the media in its reporting of the expected imminent war in Iraq.
It expressed concern that the U.S. military might censor journalists officially allowed to work among U.S. forces and that those who opted to work independently would not be protected. It also called on U.S. forces not to destroy Iraqi media facilities.
The press freedom organisation welcomed the U.S. invitation to more than 600 journalists from all over the world to report from inside the military operation. This policy of "embedding," presented by officials as giving journalists access unprecedented since the Vietnam war, would theoretically provide better coverage than was allowed during the 1991 Gulf War, it said.
But it queried whether the obligatory written promise to obey a strict 50 point
"ground rules agreement" would allow these journalists enough freedom and independence in their reporting.