 | 2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage: Encyclopedia II - 2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage - U.S. mainstream media war coverage
2003 invasion of Iraq media coverage - U.S. mainstream media war coverage
Fox News simulcasts Sky News reporter David Bowden's interview with a U.S. Army sergeant following a firefight near Umm Qasr (March 23, 2003, 09:35 UTC).
CNN broadcasts a live press conference by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf while keeping an eye on Umm Qasr (March 23, 2003, 08:27 UTC).
MSNBC discusses the various appearances of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on television and speculates on his fate (March 24, 2003, 08:41 UTC).
The most popular cable network in the United States for news on the war was Fox News, some of whose commentators and anchors made pro-war comments or disparaged detractors of the war, such as calling them "the great unwashed". Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch, a strong supporter of the war. On-screen during all live war coverage by Fox News was a waving flag animation in the upper left corner and the headline "Operation Iraqi Freedom" along the bottom. The network has shown the American flag animation in the upper-left corner since the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. Fox News' pro-war commentary stood in contrast to many U.S. newspapers' editorial pages, which were much more hesitant about going to war.
On the other hand, Fox, like other western media outlets, did have a number of regular commentators and anchors that were against the war. Western networks, including Fox, also gave some coverage to anti-war protests and rallies, anti-U.S. protests in Iraq, and celebrities and politicians that were against the war. Anti-war celebrities appearing frequently on these news networks included actors Tim Robbins, Mike Farrell, Janeane Garofalo, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon and director Michael Moore. Most of these celebrities were able to make anti-war comments in the media and receive little public criticism. However, in a widely publicized story, the country music band Dixie Chicks ignited boycotts and record burnings in the US for their negative remarks about President Bush in a concert in London. [2]
MSNBC also brought the American flag back on screen and regularly ran a tribute called "America's Bravest" which showed photographs sent by family members of troops deployed in Iraq. MSNBC also fired liberal Phil Donahue, a critic of Bush's Iraq policy, a month before the invasion began and replaced his show with Iraq war coverage hosted by Keith Olbermann. Shortly after Donahue's firing, MSNBC hired Michael Savage, a controversial conservative radio talk show host for a Saturday afternoon show. Although Donahue's show had lower ratings than several shows on other networks, and most reports on its cancellation blamed poor ratings, it was the highest-rated program on MSNBC's struggling primetime lineup at the time of its cancellation. During February "sweeps", Donahue's show averaged 446,000 viewers, compared to rival Connie Chung's 985,000 on CNN and Bill O'Reilly's 2.7 million on Fox News, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Comparing viewership from prewar to post war, MSNBC saw a 357 percent jump in ratings, while CNN went up 305 percent, and Fox News climbed 239 percent, according to Nielsen numbers. In overall numbers, Fox News was number one, followed by CNN, and then MSNBC. It was a major success for Fox News, as many had believed CNN would reclaim the top spot, since it established itself with coverage from the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
In separate incidents, at least three different Western reporters were fired or disciplined due to their actions in covering the war. Peter Arnett, an NBC and National Geographic correspondent, was fired for giving an interview with Iraqi officials in which he questioned the United States' role and saying the "first war plan had failed." Brian Walski of the Los Angeles Times was fired on March 31 for altering a photo of a U.S. soldier warning Iraqi civilians to take cover from an Iraqi aerial bombing. Geraldo Rivera left Iraq after drawing a crude map in the sand during a live broadcast on Fox News, which raised concerns at the Pentagon that he was possibly revealing vital troop movements on air.
Other related archives2003 invasion of Iraq, 2004, 2005, 3rd Infantry Division, Ahmed Chalabi, Al Jazeera, American, Amnesty International, Amy Goodman, Bill O'Reilly, British, British Broadcasting Corporation, Bush administration, CIA, CNN, Connie Chung, David Bloom, Democracy Now, Department of Defense, Dick Durbin, Dixie Chicks, Donald Rumsfeld, Firdus Square, Fox News, George Gittoes, Geraldo Rivera, Gulf War, HMS Ark Royal, Humvee, Indymedia, Iraqi Governing Council, Iraqi National Congress, Janeane Garofalo, John Kerry, Judith Miller, Keith Olbermann, London, Los Angeles Times, M2 Bradley, MSNBC, March 31, Martin Sheen, Michael Kelly, Michael Moore, Michael Savage, Mike Farrell, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, NBC, National Geographic, New York Times, North Carolina State University, October 25, POWs, Palestine Hotel, Peter Arnett, Phil Donahue, Reporters Without Borders, Rupert Murdoch, Saddam Hussein, Samarra, September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack, September 7, Sky News, Soundtrack To War, Staff Sergeant George T. Alexander Jr., Susan Sarandon, The Pentagon, Tim Robbins, U.S. Army, U.S. Army's, US, Umm Qasr, War on Terrorism, anti-war protests, band, blogging, congress, country music, internet, journalists in Baghdad's Palestine Hotel were hit by U.S. fire, soldier blogs, the Pentagon, vigils, war artist
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