Imbroglio
March 31st, 2003 | by Tony Steidler-Dennison |Peter Arnett clearly had a lapse in journalistic judgement. After giving an impromptu interview with Iraqi TV in which he questioned the US battle strategy, his employers NBC, MSNBC and National Geographic issued a joint statement that said, in part:
His impromptu interview with Iraqi television was done as a professional courtesy and was similar to other interviews he has done with media outlets from around the world.
His remarks were analytical in nature and were not intended to be anything more.
Within hours of the statement, he was fired. Wierder yet was his interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show. Arnett was nearly tearful in his apologies, calling the interview a “stupid” error in judgement. He apologized personally to Lauer and Katie Couric, to NBC, MSNBC and National Geographic.
It was a bit surreal to watch him publicly apologize to the employers who had just fired him - on the network of those employers.
Add Arnett to the blogger wish list.
7 Responses to “Imbroglio”
By MasterRa on Mar 31, 2003 | Reply
Yeah - that was a little wild this morning..
By MasterRa on Mar 31, 2003 | Reply
Matt seemed to not agree too much with their firing him, either. He expressed his respect “at the risk of getting into trouble.”
By joseph castleschouldt on Mar 31, 2003 | Reply
Saddam pays people very well for blowing up things.
By Dave on Mar 31, 2003 | Reply
Were this the first time that he had an error in judgement, he might have been forgiven. While with CNN, he made journalistic errors that cost him his job. This was his second chance and guess what?
By joseph castleschouldt on Apr 1, 2003 | Reply
Mr. Arnett has landed on his feet. After blowing up his career for Saddam, the British Daily Mirror hires him.
Maybe, this was part of Saddams pay off. I hope aid and comfort to the enemy pays well.
By Geek on Apr 2, 2003 | Reply
Why does is seem to me that the current line of thinking in the US, for the most part, is ‘it’s fine to use free speech, only as long as you agree with me’? From the General at the Pentagon to the firing of the reporter, it seems the US gov is getting far more controlling, and some of it’s citizens far more slanderous. Saddam does not pay me, nor do I think he paid this reporter. Just because someone disagrees, does not mean they sold out, it just means they are using their right to have their own opinion.
By Ron Sinclair on Apr 2, 2003 | Reply
There’s no such thing as free speech when you work for a private organization. The people he worked for before he got fired have images to uphold. Also, IMO at least, media corporations like NBC try to keep objective opinions. What Mr. Arnett stated clearly wasn’t objective. It seems Mr. Arnett hasn’t learned any lessons from his past.
Sure, there’s freedom of speech, but he sure was free to find another job after his bosses got done with him. :o)