May 2009 saw Iraq take another fall from America’s headlines. The war did not make it into the top ten news stories for any of the four weeks of that month according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. Not only did Iraq not make the top ten, for two of those four weeks it did not make the top ten in any of the five major media sources in America, newspapers, the internet, network TV, cable TV, or radio.
For the two weeks of May 4 to 10 and May 11 to 17 Iraq was not only absent from the top ten stories in the country, but did not make the top ten in any of the five press outlets. For May 18 to 24 Iraq again did not make the top ten stories, but did reach number 5 in newspapers with 4% of its coverage. That week saw the conviction of Steven Green, a former soldier, for the rape and murder of a 14-year old Iraqi girl, and her parents. From May 25 to 31 the war did a little better. While it did not make the top 10, it was the number 7 and number 8 story in newspapers, and number 10 on network TV. On May 25 three Americans were killed in a bombing in Fallujah, the next day a U.S. soldier died, and another on May 28. In total, 24 U.S. soldiers died in May, the highest number since September 2008.
May’s news coverage was a further drop from April. That month Iraq did make the top ten for one week, but was out for the other four. Not only that, but for the first time since the invasion, the war also did not crack the top ten of any media outlet for one of that months’ five weeks. March 2009 was the first month Iraq did not make the overall top ten stories. America’s press has been decreasing its stories on Iraq since the beginning of 2007. As Washington began turning to other issues like the 2008 presidential campaign, the recession, and Afghanistan-Pakistan, so did the media. Unless American elites begin talking about the war again, Iraq can expect to fade more and more in the news despite the fact that there are still over 100,000 troops in the country.
SOURCES
BBC, “US deaths in Iraq rise sharply in May,” 6/1/09
Dao, James, “Ex-Soldier Gets Life Sentence for Iraq Murders,” New York Times, 5/21/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “The Debate Over Gitmo And Waterboarding Drives The News, PEJ News Coverage Index: May 18-24, 2009,” 5/25/09
- “Economy Up And Flu Down In A Stressful Week, PEJ News Coverage Index: May 4-10, 2009,” 5/11/09
- “Politics Punctuate The Terrorism Debate, PEJ News Coverage Index: May 11-17, 2009,” 5/18/09
- “Sotomayor Spin Wars Dominate The Narrative, PEJ News Coverage Index: May 25-31, 2009,” 6/1/09
Robertson, Campbell, “U.S. Soldier and 11 Iraqis Die in Attacks,” New York Times, 5/29/09
Santora, Marc, “State Department Official Is Among 3 Killed in Iraq,” New York Times, 5/26/09
Williams, Timothy, “Bomb Kills G.I. in Baghdad as Attacks Keep Rising,” New York Times, 5/27/09
Showing posts with label U.S. media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. media. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Iraq Returns To America’s Press, Sort Of
In March 2009 Iraq fell from America’s top ten stories for the firs time since before the 2003 U.S. invasion. April 2003 was little better. While the war was back in the top ten for the week of April 20-26, 2009, for the preceding week it was not in the top ten in any major media outlet in the country. This was surprising as not only did President Obama make a trip to Iraq, but violence increased as well during that time period, which is the favorite form of reporting done by Americans about Iraq. That still didn’t stop the war sliding from U.S. headlines.
April saw Iraq back in the top ten of all news stories in the country for one week, and then disappear from all media outlets major stories in another week. Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism records reporting in America across newspapers, cable and network TV, radio, and the internet. For the week of March 30 to April 5 Pew found Iraq only reaching number six in U.S. newspapers, but not cracking the other media formats. The end of March was when the fighting between the government and Sons of Iraq forces in the Fadhil neighborhood of Baghdad ended. From April 6 to 12 the war was again not in the country’s top 10 stories, but did reach number seven online, number eight on cable TV, and number nine on the networks. That was the week that President Obama made an unannounced stop in Baghdad. A series of bombings also began in Baghdad, and five U.S. soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber in Mosul. The following week however, Iraq was not only absent from the top ten overall, but didn’t break the top ten in any media format. The up and down nature of U.S. reporting on the war was shown April 20 to 26 when Iraq cracked the top ten finally at number 9 overall, with 2% of all stories. More mass casualty bombings in Iraq was the cause. From April 27 to May 3 the war dropped out of the top ten again, and only reached number 7 in on-line reporting. This was despite the fact that three U.S. soldiers were killed, and more bombings hit the capital.
The up tick in violence and casualties in Iraq in April would seem to be just the type of story that would catch the American media’s attention, and increase reporting on the war. Instead, Iraq faded more despite reaching the top ten for one week. March was the first month Iraq dropped from the top ten stories overall for an entire month, and April saw it disappear from the top ten of all five forms of media in the U.S. for a week. Despite over 100,000 U.S. soldiers remaining in the country, continued U.S. and Iraqi deaths, and a withdrawal still over a year away the American press is finding the story less and less compelling. As in the past, the U.S. media is following Washington’s elites who are now more concerned about domestic issues with the recession, and increasingly the Afghanistan/Pakistan conflict. It would take a change in the nation’s capital, rather than events in Iraq to improve reporting.
SOURCES
Dagher, Sam, “Suicide Attack Kills 5 G.I.’s and 2 Iraqis in Northern City,” New York Times, 4/10/09
Dagher, Sam and Al-Salhy, Suadad, “Baghdad Is Shaken by a Series of Bombs,” New York Times, 4/29/09
Myers, Steven Lee, “Six Car Bombs Kill at Least 33 in Iraq,” New York Times, 4/6/09
- “Storm of Violence in Iraq Strains Its Security Forces,” New York Times, 4/24/09
Myers, Steven Lee and Cooper, Helene, “In Baghdad, Obama Presses Iraqi Leader to Unite Factions,” New York Times, 4/7/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellent in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index, April 6-12, 2009: Focus Shifts Overseas as Economic News Recedes,” 4/13/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, April 13-19, 2009: Economy Shares Headlines with Pirates, Tea Parties and Waterboarding,” 4/20/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: April 20-26, 2009, Attention To Terror Tactics Make Major News,” 4/27/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: April 27-May 3, 2009, Flu Fears Dominate A Week of Big Events,” 5/4/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 30-April 5, 2009: Overseas and at Home, Economy Dominates,” 4/6/09
Rubin, Alissa, “Guns Go Silent After 24-Hour Face-Off in Baghdad, but Tensions Remain High,” New York Times, 3/29/09
Williams, Timothy, “3 U.S. Troops Are Killed in Iraq,” New York Times, 5/1/09
April saw Iraq back in the top ten of all news stories in the country for one week, and then disappear from all media outlets major stories in another week. Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism records reporting in America across newspapers, cable and network TV, radio, and the internet. For the week of March 30 to April 5 Pew found Iraq only reaching number six in U.S. newspapers, but not cracking the other media formats. The end of March was when the fighting between the government and Sons of Iraq forces in the Fadhil neighborhood of Baghdad ended. From April 6 to 12 the war was again not in the country’s top 10 stories, but did reach number seven online, number eight on cable TV, and number nine on the networks. That was the week that President Obama made an unannounced stop in Baghdad. A series of bombings also began in Baghdad, and five U.S. soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber in Mosul. The following week however, Iraq was not only absent from the top ten overall, but didn’t break the top ten in any media format. The up and down nature of U.S. reporting on the war was shown April 20 to 26 when Iraq cracked the top ten finally at number 9 overall, with 2% of all stories. More mass casualty bombings in Iraq was the cause. From April 27 to May 3 the war dropped out of the top ten again, and only reached number 7 in on-line reporting. This was despite the fact that three U.S. soldiers were killed, and more bombings hit the capital.
The up tick in violence and casualties in Iraq in April would seem to be just the type of story that would catch the American media’s attention, and increase reporting on the war. Instead, Iraq faded more despite reaching the top ten for one week. March was the first month Iraq dropped from the top ten stories overall for an entire month, and April saw it disappear from the top ten of all five forms of media in the U.S. for a week. Despite over 100,000 U.S. soldiers remaining in the country, continued U.S. and Iraqi deaths, and a withdrawal still over a year away the American press is finding the story less and less compelling. As in the past, the U.S. media is following Washington’s elites who are now more concerned about domestic issues with the recession, and increasingly the Afghanistan/Pakistan conflict. It would take a change in the nation’s capital, rather than events in Iraq to improve reporting.
SOURCES
Dagher, Sam, “Suicide Attack Kills 5 G.I.’s and 2 Iraqis in Northern City,” New York Times, 4/10/09
Dagher, Sam and Al-Salhy, Suadad, “Baghdad Is Shaken by a Series of Bombs,” New York Times, 4/29/09
Myers, Steven Lee, “Six Car Bombs Kill at Least 33 in Iraq,” New York Times, 4/6/09
- “Storm of Violence in Iraq Strains Its Security Forces,” New York Times, 4/24/09
Myers, Steven Lee and Cooper, Helene, “In Baghdad, Obama Presses Iraqi Leader to Unite Factions,” New York Times, 4/7/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellent in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index, April 6-12, 2009: Focus Shifts Overseas as Economic News Recedes,” 4/13/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, April 13-19, 2009: Economy Shares Headlines with Pirates, Tea Parties and Waterboarding,” 4/20/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: April 20-26, 2009, Attention To Terror Tactics Make Major News,” 4/27/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: April 27-May 3, 2009, Flu Fears Dominate A Week of Big Events,” 5/4/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 30-April 5, 2009: Overseas and at Home, Economy Dominates,” 4/6/09
Rubin, Alissa, “Guns Go Silent After 24-Hour Face-Off in Baghdad, but Tensions Remain High,” New York Times, 3/29/09
Williams, Timothy, “3 U.S. Troops Are Killed in Iraq,” New York Times, 5/1/09
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Iraq Disappearing From America’s News
For the first time since 2002 Iraq did not reach the top 10 news stories in America according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. For the four weeks from March 2 to 29, 2009 Iraq did not reach the top ten once. The Pew Center covers stories across newspapers, radio, the internet, and network and cable TV. As in previous months the top news stories were the economic crisis and the new Obama administration. For March 2 to 8, Iraq only reached number 6 on the radio, but was absent from the other outlets. That week the news was on the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The next week, March 9-15, Iraq was number 5 and 10 in newspapers, and number eight online, but didn’t rank on any other form of media. The sentencing of Muntader al-Ziadi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush, and Saddam Hussein’s former Foreign Minister Tariq Azziz occurred then, along with some mass casualty bombings. From March 16 to 22, the war got into the newspapers at Number 6, and network TV at number 7, and number 10 on Cable TV, but that wasn’t enough to crack the overall top 10. That week former Vice President Cheney claimed success in Iraq in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, and it was the 6th anniversary of the U.S. invasion. In the last week of the month Iraq was number 8 in the newspapers and network TV. The arrest of a Sons of Iraq leader in Baghdad, followed by a shootout with Iraqi forces marked that period.
U.S. coverage of Iraq has been on a steady decline since 2007. The American media has largely followed policy makers and politicians when reporting on the war. In May 2007, Congress stopped discussing legislating a withdrawal of U.S. forces, and in September General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified in Washington on the Surge. After that news on the war dropped to less than 10% of news coverage. (See graph above) In 2008 major media organizations began withdrawing their staff and reporters from the country, and that trend continued into 2009. As a result, Iraq dropped to 1-3% of U.S. reporting. Now the war is even less than 1% of all stories.
The lack of politicians talking about Iraq on a consistent basis, the economic crisis, the change in administration, the new emphasis upon Afghanistan, along with the lack of reporters in Iraq have all led to March being the first month in over seven years that the war has not been a top story in America. This is something that has been long predicted here. Over 100,000 U.S. troops are expected to be in the country until early next year, and all U.S. forces are not due to depart until December 31, 2011. Dramatic events like bombings or Iraqi elections will still get coverage, but the everyday experiences of both Iraqis and Americans will largely be a fading story for many U.S. news outlets, and hence for the American public.
For more on American reporting on the war click on the "reporting" label at the bottom of the post.
SOURCES
Associated Press, “Former Saddam Cabinet Minister Sentenced,” 3/11/09
CBS/AP, “Iraqis Burn Flags To Mark 6th Anniversary,” 3/20/09
Gold, Matea, “Show Tracker: What you’re watching,” Show Tracker: What You’re Watching Blog, Los Angeles Times, 1/7/09
Kelly, Mary Louise, “A Big Move: Getting Military Equipment Out Of Iraq,” All Things Considered, NPR, 3/2/09
Londono, Ernesto and Paley, Amit, “Western Journalists in Iraq Stage Pullback of Their Own,” Washington Post, 10/11/08
Mohammed, Riyadh and Ali, Anwar, “Iraqi Shoe Thrower Gets Three Years,” New York Times, 3/12/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 2-8, 2009: Falling Stocks and Rising Rush Fuel The News,” 3/9/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 9-15, 2009: Media Focus On Economic Villains: Bonuses, Bernie and Blather,” 3/16/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 16-22, 2009: One Story Dominates: AIG in the Crosshairs,” 3/23/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 23-29: Geithner’s Plan Drives the Narrative,” 3/30/09
Ricchiardi, Sherry, “How the Media Abandoned Iraq,” American Journalism Review, June/July 2008
Rubin, Alissa and Nordland, Rod, “Troops Arrest an Awakening Council Leader in Iraq, Setting Off Fighting,” New York Times, 3/28/09
Rubin, Alissa and Santora, Marc, “Bomber Kills Dozens in Iraq as Fears of New Violence Rise,” New York Times, 3/10/09
Stetler, Brian, “TV News Winds Down Operation on Iraq War,” New York Times, 12/29/08
Sulzberger, A.G., “Cheney Says Obama Has Increased Risks,” New York Times, 3/15/09
U.S. coverage of Iraq has been on a steady decline since 2007. The American media has largely followed policy makers and politicians when reporting on the war. In May 2007, Congress stopped discussing legislating a withdrawal of U.S. forces, and in September General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified in Washington on the Surge. After that news on the war dropped to less than 10% of news coverage. (See graph above) In 2008 major media organizations began withdrawing their staff and reporters from the country, and that trend continued into 2009. As a result, Iraq dropped to 1-3% of U.S. reporting. Now the war is even less than 1% of all stories.
The lack of politicians talking about Iraq on a consistent basis, the economic crisis, the change in administration, the new emphasis upon Afghanistan, along with the lack of reporters in Iraq have all led to March being the first month in over seven years that the war has not been a top story in America. This is something that has been long predicted here. Over 100,000 U.S. troops are expected to be in the country until early next year, and all U.S. forces are not due to depart until December 31, 2011. Dramatic events like bombings or Iraqi elections will still get coverage, but the everyday experiences of both Iraqis and Americans will largely be a fading story for many U.S. news outlets, and hence for the American public.
For more on American reporting on the war click on the "reporting" label at the bottom of the post.
SOURCES
Associated Press, “Former Saddam Cabinet Minister Sentenced,” 3/11/09
CBS/AP, “Iraqis Burn Flags To Mark 6th Anniversary,” 3/20/09
Gold, Matea, “Show Tracker: What you’re watching,” Show Tracker: What You’re Watching Blog, Los Angeles Times, 1/7/09
Kelly, Mary Louise, “A Big Move: Getting Military Equipment Out Of Iraq,” All Things Considered, NPR, 3/2/09
Londono, Ernesto and Paley, Amit, “Western Journalists in Iraq Stage Pullback of Their Own,” Washington Post, 10/11/08
Mohammed, Riyadh and Ali, Anwar, “Iraqi Shoe Thrower Gets Three Years,” New York Times, 3/12/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 2-8, 2009: Falling Stocks and Rising Rush Fuel The News,” 3/9/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 9-15, 2009: Media Focus On Economic Villains: Bonuses, Bernie and Blather,” 3/16/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 16-22, 2009: One Story Dominates: AIG in the Crosshairs,” 3/23/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index, March 23-29: Geithner’s Plan Drives the Narrative,” 3/30/09
Ricchiardi, Sherry, “How the Media Abandoned Iraq,” American Journalism Review, June/July 2008
Rubin, Alissa and Nordland, Rod, “Troops Arrest an Awakening Council Leader in Iraq, Setting Off Fighting,” New York Times, 3/28/09
Rubin, Alissa and Santora, Marc, “Bomber Kills Dozens in Iraq as Fears of New Violence Rise,” New York Times, 3/10/09
Stetler, Brian, “TV News Winds Down Operation on Iraq War,” New York Times, 12/29/08
Sulzberger, A.G., “Cheney Says Obama Has Increased Risks,” New York Times, 3/15/09
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From February 2 To March 1, 2009
Iraq re-emerged in the U.S. media in February 2009, sort of. During the four weeks of the month Iraq was in the top ten stories according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism twice. That happened in the first week, February 2 to 8 and the last February 23 to March 1. Also of note is the fact that Iraq broke into the top five stories in the country for the firs time since October 2008.
Iraq was in and out of the news in February 2009. In the opening week Iraq was the number four story in the country, but only received 2% of overall coverage. That was when the results of the provincial elections were finally announced. For the next two weeks however, February 9 to 15 and 16 to 22, the war disappeared from the headlines. From February 23 to March 1 Iraq re-emerged as the number 3 and number 10 stories. At number 3 was President Obama’s announcement that he would pull most American troops out of the country by the end of 2011, which garnered 6% of American news coverage. At number 10 were events in Iraq, which included the charges against Iraqi parliamentarian Mohammad al-Daini for involvement in a number of insurgent attacks including a bombing of the legislature in 2007, and the re-opening of the Iraqi Museum. That received 2% of all stories in the U.S. media.
The last time Iraq broke the top five stories in America was the week of October 6 to 12, 2008. At that time Iraq was at number 4 even though it was only 1% of all stories. That was the week that Christians were attacked in Mosul, and the U.S. and Iraq were negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement.
Overall, average American coverage of Iraq was up for February compared to the previous month, but about average for the last six months of 2008. In February the war averaged 2.5% of all U.S. media coverage. That was double the amount of reporting in January when Iraq only received 1.25%. February matched the last six months of 2008 when it was between 2-3% of all stories. That is still below the average of 2007 when the war was 25% of the news and was consistently in the top five. If not for the President’s speech on his new Iraq policy, the topic might have dropped off the radar for the rest of the month. The coverage shows that only big events such as elections and announcements from Washington will get the American media’s attention, because it is spending most of its time on the current economic crisis and the new Obama administration.
SOURCES
Baker, Peter, “With Pledges to Troops and Iraqis, Obama Details Pullout,” New York Times, 2/27/09
Meyers, Steven Lee, “Iraq Museum Reopens Six Years After Looting,” New York Times, 2/23/09
Mohammed, Riyadh, “Election Results: Who’s Up, Who’s Down,” Baghdad Bureau Blog, New York Times, 2/6/09
Pew Research center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: Feb. 2-8, 2009, The News Narrative Turns Bearish On Obama,” 2/9/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: Feb. 9-15, 2009, Stimulus Success Shifts The Storyline,” 2/17/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: February 16-22, 2009, Fresh Challenges, New Debates Drive A Grim Economy Story,” 2/23/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: February 23-March 1, 2009, The New Obama Narrative: “Change” Was An Understatement,” 3/4/09
Santora, “Iraqi Lawmaker Is Charged With Masterminding an Attack on Parliament,” New York Times, 2/22/09
Iraq was in and out of the news in February 2009. In the opening week Iraq was the number four story in the country, but only received 2% of overall coverage. That was when the results of the provincial elections were finally announced. For the next two weeks however, February 9 to 15 and 16 to 22, the war disappeared from the headlines. From February 23 to March 1 Iraq re-emerged as the number 3 and number 10 stories. At number 3 was President Obama’s announcement that he would pull most American troops out of the country by the end of 2011, which garnered 6% of American news coverage. At number 10 were events in Iraq, which included the charges against Iraqi parliamentarian Mohammad al-Daini for involvement in a number of insurgent attacks including a bombing of the legislature in 2007, and the re-opening of the Iraqi Museum. That received 2% of all stories in the U.S. media.
The last time Iraq broke the top five stories in America was the week of October 6 to 12, 2008. At that time Iraq was at number 4 even though it was only 1% of all stories. That was the week that Christians were attacked in Mosul, and the U.S. and Iraq were negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement.
Overall, average American coverage of Iraq was up for February compared to the previous month, but about average for the last six months of 2008. In February the war averaged 2.5% of all U.S. media coverage. That was double the amount of reporting in January when Iraq only received 1.25%. February matched the last six months of 2008 when it was between 2-3% of all stories. That is still below the average of 2007 when the war was 25% of the news and was consistently in the top five. If not for the President’s speech on his new Iraq policy, the topic might have dropped off the radar for the rest of the month. The coverage shows that only big events such as elections and announcements from Washington will get the American media’s attention, because it is spending most of its time on the current economic crisis and the new Obama administration.
SOURCES
Baker, Peter, “With Pledges to Troops and Iraqis, Obama Details Pullout,” New York Times, 2/27/09
Meyers, Steven Lee, “Iraq Museum Reopens Six Years After Looting,” New York Times, 2/23/09
Mohammed, Riyadh, “Election Results: Who’s Up, Who’s Down,” Baghdad Bureau Blog, New York Times, 2/6/09
Pew Research center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: Feb. 2-8, 2009, The News Narrative Turns Bearish On Obama,” 2/9/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: Feb. 9-15, 2009, Stimulus Success Shifts The Storyline,” 2/17/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: February 16-22, 2009, Fresh Challenges, New Debates Drive A Grim Economy Story,” 2/23/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: February 23-March 1, 2009, The New Obama Narrative: “Change” Was An Understatement,” 3/4/09
Santora, “Iraqi Lawmaker Is Charged With Masterminding an Attack on Parliament,” New York Times, 2/22/09
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From December 29, 2008 to February 1, 2009
The American media’s coverage of the Iraq War in January 2009 may foreshadow the declining importance of the subject in the United States for the new year. As reported before, the American media allocated between 2-3% of its reporting to Iraq in 2008. This was a sharp decline from the beginning of 2007 when the war was a top five story and accounted for 25% of the news. By the end of the year it was down to 4%. In January 2009 Iraq accounted for only 1.25% of stories in the U.S.
According to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellent in Journalism that monitories all forms of American media, from December 29, 2008 to February 1, 2009 Iraq made the top ten stories in the country three out of four weeks. From December 29 to January 4 Iraq was the number seven story in America with 2% of all coverage. The handover of the Green Zone to Iraqis as part of the Status of Forces Agreement was in the news at that time. The next week Iraq did not make the top ten. From January 19 to 25 Iraq just made the top stories at number ten and only 1% of the stories. The new Obama administration was discussing its war policy then. For the week of January 26 to February 1 Iraq was number six with 2% of coverage. That was the week of the January 31 provincial elections. That was the biggest news of the month in Iraq, yet didn’t make the top five stories in America, and only raised press coverage to the average of the previous year.
Iraq has been consistently pushed farther and farther out of the news since 2007. When American politicians stopped discussing Iraq policy in 2007 there was a decided drop in media coverage. In 2008 the economic crisis and the campaign for president pushed most other news stories off the front pages and television screens. In 2009 the new Obama administration, the continued problems with the economy, and the new emphasis on Afghanistan will be the major stories, leaving Iraq more and more an afterthought in the minds of the American public.
SOURCES
Baker, Peter and Shanker, Thom, “Obama Meets With Officials on Iraq, Signaling New Commitment to Ending War,” New York Times, 1/21/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence In Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: December 29, 2008-January 4, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/5/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 5-11, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/12/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 19-25, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/26/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 26 – February 1, 2009; The Economic Crisis Returns With A Vengeance,” 2/2/09
Robertson, Campbell and Farrell, Stephen, “Green Zone, Heart of U.S. Occupation, Reverts To Iraqi Control,” New York Times, 12/31/08
According to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellent in Journalism that monitories all forms of American media, from December 29, 2008 to February 1, 2009 Iraq made the top ten stories in the country three out of four weeks. From December 29 to January 4 Iraq was the number seven story in America with 2% of all coverage. The handover of the Green Zone to Iraqis as part of the Status of Forces Agreement was in the news at that time. The next week Iraq did not make the top ten. From January 19 to 25 Iraq just made the top stories at number ten and only 1% of the stories. The new Obama administration was discussing its war policy then. For the week of January 26 to February 1 Iraq was number six with 2% of coverage. That was the week of the January 31 provincial elections. That was the biggest news of the month in Iraq, yet didn’t make the top five stories in America, and only raised press coverage to the average of the previous year.
Iraq has been consistently pushed farther and farther out of the news since 2007. When American politicians stopped discussing Iraq policy in 2007 there was a decided drop in media coverage. In 2008 the economic crisis and the campaign for president pushed most other news stories off the front pages and television screens. In 2009 the new Obama administration, the continued problems with the economy, and the new emphasis on Afghanistan will be the major stories, leaving Iraq more and more an afterthought in the minds of the American public.
SOURCES
Baker, Peter and Shanker, Thom, “Obama Meets With Officials on Iraq, Signaling New Commitment to Ending War,” New York Times, 1/21/09
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence In Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: December 29, 2008-January 4, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/5/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 5-11, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/12/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 19-25, 2009; Symbols And Substance Of Obama’s First Week Drive The Narrative,” 1/26/09
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: January 26 – February 1, 2009; The Economic Crisis Returns With A Vengeance,” 2/2/09
Robertson, Campbell and Farrell, Stephen, “Green Zone, Heart of U.S. Occupation, Reverts To Iraqi Control,” New York Times, 12/31/08
Friday, January 09, 2009
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From December 1 to December 21, 2008, and Year-End Round Up
U.S. news coverage of Iraq in December 2008 was representative of the entire year. According to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism’s News Index, which covers all forms of media in the United States, Iraq made it into the top ten news stories two of the three weeks from December 1 to December 21. The Center did not cover the last week of the year because they were on vacation. That has been about the average amount of news coverage for the war for all of 2008.
For the first three weeks of December Iraq averaged 2% of all U.S. news. For the first week of December Iraq did not make the top ten stories. From December 8 to 14, it was the number 9 story with 2% of press coverage. The major story that week was the court case of several Blackwater private security guards who were involved in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad. For the third week of December, Iraq moved up to the number 7 story and 4% of all American news. The reason for the jump was the journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi throwing his shoes at President Bush on his last trip to Iraq. The story seemed to be getting mass coverage, yet it did not push Iraq into the top five stories that week, which consisted of the recession, 15%, the in-coming Barak Obama administration, 14%, the Governor Blagojevich scandal, 12%, the problems with the U.S. car industry, 9%, and the Madoff banking scandal, 8%. The election, and now transition, and the sinking economy have dominated American news since 2007, pushing Iraq to the back burner.
That decline began in January 2007. Despite some brief increases, Iraq went from a top 5 news story in the beginning of 2007 with around 25% of the coverage, to about 4% of all stories by the end of 2007. The number of reports dropped again in 2008 down to about 2-3% during the year, and only making the top ten three out of four weeks. For the week of December 31, 2006 to January 5, 2007 for example, all Iraq related news accounted for 24% of reports with the number 3, 4, 5, and 6 stories in the country. By the middle of 2007, from May 27 to June 1, 2007, Iraq stories were down to 15% of the news. In the last week of the year covered by Pew, December 9 to 14, Iraq was the No. 5 story at 4%. The week of June 30 to July 6, 2008 was typical for last year when Iraq was the number 6 story and 3% of press coverage.
The associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism believes the turning point for the media was May 2007. In that month Congress passed a new Iraq war funding bill that did not include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal. After that bill was passed U.S. lawmakers generally stopped discussing the war with a few exceptions such as General David Petraeus’ testimony in September 2007. When politicians decided to not talk about Iraq, the American media followed suit. Other stories like the election and the economy then moved to the forefront.
The outlook for 2009 appears to be no better, and news stories might decrease again. The New York Times recently reported that the three network news stations no longer have full-time reporters in Iraq anymore. ABC, CBS, and NBC are all cutting back their staffs in Iraq, usually only keeping a producer and a few Iraqi employees in Baghdad, and flying in reporters when a story breaks. Many are trying to move assets to Afghanistan now as they believe that will be the focus of the incoming Obama administration. As a result, network news has the least amount of coverage of Iraq. From January 1, 2008 to December 19, 2008 they committed 423 minutes to the war compared to 1,888 minutes in 2007. CNN and Fox News are keeping one reporter each in Iraq, while only a few U.S. newspapers are maintaining bureaus in Iraq such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and McClatchy Newspapers, along with the Associated Press and Reuters.
There will always be stories such as the shoe throwing incident that will catch the attention of the American media, but otherwise Iraq is fading from U.S. news. This is especially shocking since there are still over 140,000 American troops in the country. Soldiers are expected to be there until at least 2011 if not longer. The duty of the press is to inform the public. In the case of Iraq, they are failing in that job.
For more on reporting on Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28-August 31,2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 29 to November 2, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From November 3 to November 23, 2008
SOURCES
Myers, Steven Lee and Rubin, Alissa, “Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush and Denounces Him on TV as a ‘Dog,” New York Times, 12/14/08
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “A Christmas Present – No Story Eats The News, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 15-21,2008,” 12/22/08
- “Blago-Gate Dominates The Week’s News, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 8-14,2008,” 12/15/08
- “Both Campaigns Get The Summertime Blues, PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: June 30-July 6, 2008,” 7/7/08
- “Clinton Is The Big Winner Last Week In The Race For Coverage, Campaign Coverage Index: January 6-11,2008,” 1/12/08
- “The ‘Doctors’ Plot’ Is Number One, PEJ News Coverage Index: July 1-6, 2007,” 7/7/07
- “The News Gets Grimmer At Home And Abroad, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 1-7, 2008,” 1/8/08
- “Talk Hosts Opt For Politics Over The ‘TB Traveler,’ PEJ Talk Show Index: May 27-June 1, 2007,” 6/2/07
- “Talk Hosts Pounce As Clinton Appears to Stumble, PEJ Talk Show Index: December 9-14, 2007,” 12/15/07
- “The ‘Tyrant On Tour’ Coverage Tops The News, PEJ News Coverage Index: Sept. 23-28, 2007,” 9/29/07
Ricchiardi, Sherry, “Whatever Happened to Iraq?” American Journalism Review, June/July 2008
Stetler, Brian, “TV News Winds Down Operation on Iraq War,” New York Times, 12/29/08
Thompson, Ginger and Risen, James, “Plea by Blackwater Guard Helps Indict Others,” New York Times, 12/8/08
Zoepf, Katherine and Kakan, Atheer, “U.S. Prosecutor Goes to Iraq to Work on Blackwater Case,” New York Times, 12/7/08
For the first three weeks of December Iraq averaged 2% of all U.S. news. For the first week of December Iraq did not make the top ten stories. From December 8 to 14, it was the number 9 story with 2% of press coverage. The major story that week was the court case of several Blackwater private security guards who were involved in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad. For the third week of December, Iraq moved up to the number 7 story and 4% of all American news. The reason for the jump was the journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi throwing his shoes at President Bush on his last trip to Iraq. The story seemed to be getting mass coverage, yet it did not push Iraq into the top five stories that week, which consisted of the recession, 15%, the in-coming Barak Obama administration, 14%, the Governor Blagojevich scandal, 12%, the problems with the U.S. car industry, 9%, and the Madoff banking scandal, 8%. The election, and now transition, and the sinking economy have dominated American news since 2007, pushing Iraq to the back burner.
That decline began in January 2007. Despite some brief increases, Iraq went from a top 5 news story in the beginning of 2007 with around 25% of the coverage, to about 4% of all stories by the end of 2007. The number of reports dropped again in 2008 down to about 2-3% during the year, and only making the top ten three out of four weeks. For the week of December 31, 2006 to January 5, 2007 for example, all Iraq related news accounted for 24% of reports with the number 3, 4, 5, and 6 stories in the country. By the middle of 2007, from May 27 to June 1, 2007, Iraq stories were down to 15% of the news. In the last week of the year covered by Pew, December 9 to 14, Iraq was the No. 5 story at 4%. The week of June 30 to July 6, 2008 was typical for last year when Iraq was the number 6 story and 3% of press coverage.
The associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism believes the turning point for the media was May 2007. In that month Congress passed a new Iraq war funding bill that did not include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal. After that bill was passed U.S. lawmakers generally stopped discussing the war with a few exceptions such as General David Petraeus’ testimony in September 2007. When politicians decided to not talk about Iraq, the American media followed suit. Other stories like the election and the economy then moved to the forefront.
The outlook for 2009 appears to be no better, and news stories might decrease again. The New York Times recently reported that the three network news stations no longer have full-time reporters in Iraq anymore. ABC, CBS, and NBC are all cutting back their staffs in Iraq, usually only keeping a producer and a few Iraqi employees in Baghdad, and flying in reporters when a story breaks. Many are trying to move assets to Afghanistan now as they believe that will be the focus of the incoming Obama administration. As a result, network news has the least amount of coverage of Iraq. From January 1, 2008 to December 19, 2008 they committed 423 minutes to the war compared to 1,888 minutes in 2007. CNN and Fox News are keeping one reporter each in Iraq, while only a few U.S. newspapers are maintaining bureaus in Iraq such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and McClatchy Newspapers, along with the Associated Press and Reuters.
There will always be stories such as the shoe throwing incident that will catch the attention of the American media, but otherwise Iraq is fading from U.S. news. This is especially shocking since there are still over 140,000 American troops in the country. Soldiers are expected to be there until at least 2011 if not longer. The duty of the press is to inform the public. In the case of Iraq, they are failing in that job.
For more on reporting on Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28-August 31,2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 29 to November 2, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From November 3 to November 23, 2008
SOURCES
Myers, Steven Lee and Rubin, Alissa, “Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush and Denounces Him on TV as a ‘Dog,” New York Times, 12/14/08
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “A Christmas Present – No Story Eats The News, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 15-21,2008,” 12/22/08
- “Blago-Gate Dominates The Week’s News, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 8-14,2008,” 12/15/08
- “Both Campaigns Get The Summertime Blues, PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: June 30-July 6, 2008,” 7/7/08
- “Clinton Is The Big Winner Last Week In The Race For Coverage, Campaign Coverage Index: January 6-11,2008,” 1/12/08
- “The ‘Doctors’ Plot’ Is Number One, PEJ News Coverage Index: July 1-6, 2007,” 7/7/07
- “The News Gets Grimmer At Home And Abroad, PEJ News Coverage Index: December 1-7, 2008,” 1/8/08
- “Talk Hosts Opt For Politics Over The ‘TB Traveler,’ PEJ Talk Show Index: May 27-June 1, 2007,” 6/2/07
- “Talk Hosts Pounce As Clinton Appears to Stumble, PEJ Talk Show Index: December 9-14, 2007,” 12/15/07
- “The ‘Tyrant On Tour’ Coverage Tops The News, PEJ News Coverage Index: Sept. 23-28, 2007,” 9/29/07
Ricchiardi, Sherry, “Whatever Happened to Iraq?” American Journalism Review, June/July 2008
Stetler, Brian, “TV News Winds Down Operation on Iraq War,” New York Times, 12/29/08
Thompson, Ginger and Risen, James, “Plea by Blackwater Guard Helps Indict Others,” New York Times, 12/8/08
Zoepf, Katherine and Kakan, Atheer, “U.S. Prosecutor Goes to Iraq to Work on Blackwater Case,” New York Times, 12/7/08
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From November 3 to November 23, 2008
The Pew Research Center runs the Project of Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). The PEJ’s News Index covers all stories in the U.S. press from print journalism to TV to radio to the internet. From November 3 to November 23, 2008 they found that Iraq was in the top 10 news stories two of the three weeks. Perhaps because of the Thanksgiving holiday they did not cover the last part of the month.
For the first full week of November Iraq was not in the top 10. The U.S. elections and economic crisis dominated the media landscape, accounting for six of the top 10 stories. From November 10-16 however, the war reached number 7 with 2% of the overall coverage. Most of the reporting was on violence in Iraq, such as an Iraqi soldier who killed two American G.I.s. In the next week, November 17-23, Iraq dropped one to number 8, but stayed at 2%. The major story was Iraq’s parliament passing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that will determine the future military and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
November’s coverage of Iraq was on par with the previous reporting from September 29 to November 2. During that time period the war was in the top ten four out of five weeks. This was an increase from the rest of the year when Iraq made it into the top stories on average two out of every four weeks. With the recession getting worse and the new Obama administration planning on putting more emphasis upon the war in Afghanistan, it is probably unlikely that Iraq reporting will go up anytime soon unless something dramatic happens there.
For more on U.S. press coverage of Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28 to August 31, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 29 to November 2, 2008
SOURCES
Dagher, Sam, “Iraqi Soldier Reportedly Kills 2 G.I.’s,” New York Times, 11/12/08
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 3-9, 2008, In Election Week, Media Pivots From Race To Rahm,” 11/10/08
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 10-16, 2008, Post-Election Narrative, A Tale Of Two Women,” 11/17/08
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 17-23, 2008, Cars And Appointments Dominate The News,” 11/24/08
Robertson, Campbell and Farrell, Stephen, “Pact, Approved in Iraq, Sets Time for U.S. Pullout,” New York Times, 11/16/08
For the first full week of November Iraq was not in the top 10. The U.S. elections and economic crisis dominated the media landscape, accounting for six of the top 10 stories. From November 10-16 however, the war reached number 7 with 2% of the overall coverage. Most of the reporting was on violence in Iraq, such as an Iraqi soldier who killed two American G.I.s. In the next week, November 17-23, Iraq dropped one to number 8, but stayed at 2%. The major story was Iraq’s parliament passing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that will determine the future military and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
November’s coverage of Iraq was on par with the previous reporting from September 29 to November 2. During that time period the war was in the top ten four out of five weeks. This was an increase from the rest of the year when Iraq made it into the top stories on average two out of every four weeks. With the recession getting worse and the new Obama administration planning on putting more emphasis upon the war in Afghanistan, it is probably unlikely that Iraq reporting will go up anytime soon unless something dramatic happens there.
For more on U.S. press coverage of Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28 to August 31, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 29 to November 2, 2008
SOURCES
Dagher, Sam, “Iraqi Soldier Reportedly Kills 2 G.I.’s,” New York Times, 11/12/08
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 3-9, 2008, In Election Week, Media Pivots From Race To Rahm,” 11/10/08
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 10-16, 2008, Post-Election Narrative, A Tale Of Two Women,” 11/17/08
- “PEJ News Coverage Index: November 17-23, 2008, Cars And Appointments Dominate The News,” 11/24/08
Robertson, Campbell and Farrell, Stephen, “Pact, Approved in Iraq, Sets Time for U.S. Pullout,” New York Times, 11/16/08
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 29 to November 2, 2008
According to the Pew Research Center’s Project For Excellence In Journalism News Index, Iraq reached the top ten stories in America four out of five weeks from September 29 to November 2, 2008. The News Index covers stories across all U.S. media outlets from newspapers, to magazines, to TV, radio, and the internet. The October coverage was a decline from the previous four weeks when the war was in the top ten for the entire month.
During October reports on Iraq varied from 3% of all news stories down to 1%. From September 29 to October 5, the war was the number 7 story in the country with 1% of the coverage. The major stories were bombings during the end of Ramadan, and the signing of a new provincial election law. From October 6 to 12, the war moved up to the number 4 story, but coverage remained at 1% of the total. That week Christians in Mosul were attacked, and negotiations over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Iraq to maintain American forces in the country after December 31, 2008 when their United Nations mandate expires were some of the main news. The next week, October 13 to 19, Iraq failed to make the top 10. From October 20 to 26 however, the war reached its highest coverage at 3% total as Iraq was the number five story at 2%, and how the war impacted the United States was number 10 with 1%. On the home front, the media reported on the court martial of a U.S. soldiers accused of killing two of his officers, while in Iraq they covered the handover of Babil province to the Iraqi government, and the continued negotiations over the SOFA. Finally, from October 27 to November 2, Iraq was the number four story with 2% of coverage. More on the SOFA talks, a record low in U.S. troops deaths, and an American raid into Syria to kill an Al Qaeda operative were some of the main news covered that week.
As reported earlier, coverage of Iraq has dropped dramatically over the last two years. In January 2007, Iraq made up 24.9% of all stories in the U.S. according to the Pew Research Center. By March 2008 it had dropped to 5.2%. Since the summer of 2008, Iraq has dropped down to only 1-2% of coverage on average, and usually only makes the top ten news stories every other week. Television has seen the greatest decline of coverage, while newspapers have the most, but even then, the total number of stories has been dropping. Front page stories in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times, three papers that have Baghdad offices, went from 858 in 2003, to 379 in 2007, to just 138 in the first nine months of 2008. The major reasons have been the end of public debate about the war in Congress, the presidential election, the problems with the economy, and increasing emphasis upon Afghanistan. As a result, many news agencies have been pulling their staff out of Iraq. CBS and NBC for example, no longer have full time reporters in Baghdad.
As long as the United States has troops in Iraq, it will continue to be a story. Its importance to politicians and the public however, are reflected in the declining coverage. The media, rather than setting the agenda, usually follow what is going on in Washington D.C., so unless politicians again take up the war, it will probably continue to be in the news, but at the low levels it has been since this summer.
For more on U.S. press coverage of Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28 to August 31, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
SOURCES
Associated Press, “Iraq’s President Signs Elections Law,” CBS News, 10/3/08
- “U.S. Deaths In Iraq Plunge To Wartime Low,” 10/31/08
CBS/Associated Press, “Iraq ‘Fragging’ Trial To Open At Ft. Bragg,” 10/22/08
- “U.S. Hands Over 12th Iraqi Province,” 10/23/08
- “U.S. Nears Deal To Keep Troops In Iraq,” 10/7/08
Dagher, Sam, “Iraqis Insist on Changes to Long-Delayed Security Pact With U.S.,” New York Times, 10/30/08
Farrell, Stephen, “Baghdad Suicide Bombers Kill 2 Dozen in Attacks on Mosques,” New York Times, 10/2/08
Knickmeyer, Ellen, “Syria Protests U.S. Raid To U.N., Orders Closures,” Washington Post, 10/29/08
Pew Research Center’s Project For Excellence In Journalism, “Campaign Coverage Index, Oct 27-Nov. 2, 2008: Near The End, It’s All About Numbers,” 11/3/08
- “Iraq War Coverage Plunges,” 3/25/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: October 6-12, 2008: Economy Shrinks, Tactics Grow, In Media Narrative,” 10/14/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index, October 13-19, 2008: A Plumber (Sort of) Gets His 15 Minutes,” 10/20/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index, October 20-26, 2008: As the Candidates Head Down the Stretch, Horse Race Dominates,” 10/27/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: September 29-October 5, 2008: Veep Debate, Palin Rule Campaign News,” 10/6/08
Rubin, Alissa and Zoepf, Katherine, “Iraqi Cabinet Wants Security Agreement Altered,” New York Times, 10/21/08
During October reports on Iraq varied from 3% of all news stories down to 1%. From September 29 to October 5, the war was the number 7 story in the country with 1% of the coverage. The major stories were bombings during the end of Ramadan, and the signing of a new provincial election law. From October 6 to 12, the war moved up to the number 4 story, but coverage remained at 1% of the total. That week Christians in Mosul were attacked, and negotiations over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Iraq to maintain American forces in the country after December 31, 2008 when their United Nations mandate expires were some of the main news. The next week, October 13 to 19, Iraq failed to make the top 10. From October 20 to 26 however, the war reached its highest coverage at 3% total as Iraq was the number five story at 2%, and how the war impacted the United States was number 10 with 1%. On the home front, the media reported on the court martial of a U.S. soldiers accused of killing two of his officers, while in Iraq they covered the handover of Babil province to the Iraqi government, and the continued negotiations over the SOFA. Finally, from October 27 to November 2, Iraq was the number four story with 2% of coverage. More on the SOFA talks, a record low in U.S. troops deaths, and an American raid into Syria to kill an Al Qaeda operative were some of the main news covered that week.
As reported earlier, coverage of Iraq has dropped dramatically over the last two years. In January 2007, Iraq made up 24.9% of all stories in the U.S. according to the Pew Research Center. By March 2008 it had dropped to 5.2%. Since the summer of 2008, Iraq has dropped down to only 1-2% of coverage on average, and usually only makes the top ten news stories every other week. Television has seen the greatest decline of coverage, while newspapers have the most, but even then, the total number of stories has been dropping. Front page stories in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times, three papers that have Baghdad offices, went from 858 in 2003, to 379 in 2007, to just 138 in the first nine months of 2008. The major reasons have been the end of public debate about the war in Congress, the presidential election, the problems with the economy, and increasing emphasis upon Afghanistan. As a result, many news agencies have been pulling their staff out of Iraq. CBS and NBC for example, no longer have full time reporters in Baghdad.
As long as the United States has troops in Iraq, it will continue to be a story. Its importance to politicians and the public however, are reflected in the declining coverage. The media, rather than setting the agenda, usually follow what is going on in Washington D.C., so unless politicians again take up the war, it will probably continue to be in the news, but at the low levels it has been since this summer.
For more on U.S. press coverage of Iraq see:
The Decline of Reporting on Iraq
Iraq News Coverage Update I
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From June 2 to July 9, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 7 to August 3
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From July 28 to August 31, 2008
Monthly Media Coverage of Iraq From September 1 to September 28, 2008
SOURCES
Associated Press, “Iraq’s President Signs Elections Law,” CBS News, 10/3/08
- “U.S. Deaths In Iraq Plunge To Wartime Low,” 10/31/08
CBS/Associated Press, “Iraq ‘Fragging’ Trial To Open At Ft. Bragg,” 10/22/08
- “U.S. Hands Over 12th Iraqi Province,” 10/23/08
- “U.S. Nears Deal To Keep Troops In Iraq,” 10/7/08
Dagher, Sam, “Iraqis Insist on Changes to Long-Delayed Security Pact With U.S.,” New York Times, 10/30/08
Farrell, Stephen, “Baghdad Suicide Bombers Kill 2 Dozen in Attacks on Mosques,” New York Times, 10/2/08
Knickmeyer, Ellen, “Syria Protests U.S. Raid To U.N., Orders Closures,” Washington Post, 10/29/08
Pew Research Center’s Project For Excellence In Journalism, “Campaign Coverage Index, Oct 27-Nov. 2, 2008: Near The End, It’s All About Numbers,” 11/3/08
- “Iraq War Coverage Plunges,” 3/25/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: October 6-12, 2008: Economy Shrinks, Tactics Grow, In Media Narrative,” 10/14/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index, October 13-19, 2008: A Plumber (Sort of) Gets His 15 Minutes,” 10/20/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index, October 20-26, 2008: As the Candidates Head Down the Stretch, Horse Race Dominates,” 10/27/08
- “PEJ Campaign Coverage Index: September 29-October 5, 2008: Veep Debate, Palin Rule Campaign News,” 10/6/08
Rubin, Alissa and Zoepf, Katherine, “Iraqi Cabinet Wants Security Agreement Altered,” New York Times, 10/21/08
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
In the Media: When Agents of Death & Mayhem Get All the Press
Earlier this week I blogged about the tendency in the press to characterize Iraq as a "mission impossible" and "let homegrown terrorists and foreign fighters speak for Iraq using car bombs and death squads."
As I posted the blog, I heard the voice of Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One (the abrupt, impolite borg crewman on Voyager who always spoke in short declarative sentences) demand: "Where's your data?"
Here’s a list of the 16 top stories on the New York Times Website - Iraq News:
May 23, 2007 - As Comrades Search, Fatal Bomb Wreaks Havoc
May 23, 2007 - Suicide Bomber Kills 15 East of Baghdad (AP)
May 23, 2007 - Democrats Pull Troop Deadline From Iraq Bill
May 23, 2007 - Iraqi Police Say Body in U.S. Uniform Is Found (AP)
May 22, 2007 - Gunmen Kill 5 in Ambush of Minibus in Diyala Province on Day of Scattered Violence in Iraq
May 22, 2007 - Attacks in Sunni Areas in Baghdad Kill at Least 29
May 22, 2007 - Baghdad District Is a Model, but Only for Shiites
May 22, 2007 - War Proposal Still Stymied Despite Talks
May 22, 2007 - Car Bombing in Baghdad Kills 25 (AP)
May 21, 2007 - 7 U.S. Soldiers Die in Iraq, 6 in Sweep of Baghdad
May 20, 2007 - Bombs Imperil U.S. Troops Searching for Captured Comrades
May 20, 2007 - Gunmen in Iraqi Army Uniforms Kill 15 in Eastern Village
May 20, 2007 - U.S. Force Kills Shiite Linked to Deaths of 5 Soldiers
May 19, 2007 - Talks, but No Breakthrough, on Iraq War Spending Measure
May 19, 2007 - Contractor Deaths in Iraq Soar to Record
May 19, 2007 - U.S. Forces Seize 6 Linked to Armor-Piercing Bombs
Since most Americans rarely read past the headlines, I used key words to tally the number of news stories devoted to agents of death and mayhem in Iraq vs. stories about more responsible parties.
Here's the score: 12 points for Suicide Bombers, Gunmen, Bombs, Killing, Imperiled Troops, and Deaths; 3 points for U.S. domestic politics over the emergency spending bill, and (Maestro, can I have a drum roll please…) 1 point for “Model Districts” in Baghdad (although only for Shiites, mind you).
Granted, Iraq is on fire from Mosul to Basra, especially in parts of Baghdad and Diyala provinces, but that does not let the New York Times and news media off-the-hook. The U.S. media ought to be reporting on both the people who are part of the problem as well as the people and events who might be part of the solution.
As I posted the blog, I heard the voice of Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One (the abrupt, impolite borg crewman on Voyager who always spoke in short declarative sentences) demand: "Where's your data?"Here’s a list of the 16 top stories on the New York Times Website - Iraq News:
May 23, 2007 - As Comrades Search, Fatal Bomb Wreaks Havoc
May 23, 2007 - Suicide Bomber Kills 15 East of Baghdad (AP)
May 23, 2007 - Democrats Pull Troop Deadline From Iraq Bill
May 23, 2007 - Iraqi Police Say Body in U.S. Uniform Is Found (AP)
May 22, 2007 - Gunmen Kill 5 in Ambush of Minibus in Diyala Province on Day of Scattered Violence in Iraq
May 22, 2007 - Attacks in Sunni Areas in Baghdad Kill at Least 29
May 22, 2007 - Baghdad District Is a Model, but Only for Shiites
May 22, 2007 - War Proposal Still Stymied Despite Talks
May 22, 2007 - Car Bombing in Baghdad Kills 25 (AP)
May 21, 2007 - 7 U.S. Soldiers Die in Iraq, 6 in Sweep of Baghdad
May 20, 2007 - Bombs Imperil U.S. Troops Searching for Captured Comrades
May 20, 2007 - Gunmen in Iraqi Army Uniforms Kill 15 in Eastern Village
May 20, 2007 - U.S. Force Kills Shiite Linked to Deaths of 5 Soldiers
May 19, 2007 - Talks, but No Breakthrough, on Iraq War Spending Measure
May 19, 2007 - Contractor Deaths in Iraq Soar to Record
May 19, 2007 - U.S. Forces Seize 6 Linked to Armor-Piercing Bombs
Since most Americans rarely read past the headlines, I used key words to tally the number of news stories devoted to agents of death and mayhem in Iraq vs. stories about more responsible parties.
Here's the score: 12 points for Suicide Bombers, Gunmen, Bombs, Killing, Imperiled Troops, and Deaths; 3 points for U.S. domestic politics over the emergency spending bill, and (Maestro, can I have a drum roll please…) 1 point for “Model Districts” in Baghdad (although only for Shiites, mind you).
Granted, Iraq is on fire from Mosul to Basra, especially in parts of Baghdad and Diyala provinces, but that does not let the New York Times and news media off-the-hook. The U.S. media ought to be reporting on both the people who are part of the problem as well as the people and events who might be part of the solution.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
In the Media: Declaring "Game Over" in Iraq Over and Over Again
When it comes to Iraq, the media loves broad-stroke narratives. In recent years we've watched the pendulum of U.S. media coverage swing from "mission accomplished" to "mission impossible."Yet the reality has always remained somewhere in between. Iraq’s emergence from devastating tyranny, sanctions, wars and occupation was never going to be “a cake walk,” nor hopeless. The former has already been proven wrong, and the latter does a terrible injustice to all Iraqis as well as U.S. soldiers and international aid workers. It tells them we would rather let homegrown terrorists and foreign fighters speak for Iraq using car bombs and death squads, rather than listen to the needs and aspirations of the vast majority of Iraqis who abhor the killing of noncombatants and want to see an end to violence.
If Iraq’s population included only car bombers, death squads and the victims of both, then yes, the country would be without hope. Fortunately, Iraq has many brave souls struggling to make a difference in every sector of society and every city and province. The problem is not that they don’t exist, but that the media has a difficult time reporting on their efforts without exposing them to threats and attacks from criminal gangs and violent extremists.
Reading the broad-stroke newspaper headlines, sub-headers and captions these days, one gets the distinct impression we’re all presiding over the funeral of Iraq. Every day another nail is driven into the coffin. For example, here’s the blurb that the New York Times Magazine used to describe Nir Rosen’s ace reporting on Iraq’s refugee crisis: “Millions of Iraqis have fled their country, creating the largest Mideast refugee problem since 1948 -- and depriving Iraq of the very people who might have rebuilt it.”
Might have rebuilt it?! Yep folks, the gig is up. Iraq will never be rebuilt: time to throw in the towel and watch the country burn from a safer distance. Good grief!?
While we can all agree (save perhaps one lonely President) that the war in Iraq has created the worst displacement crisis we’ve seen in the Middle East since the formation of Israel, it’s a little premature to declare: “Game Over.” It’s far from over, and as we’ve seen time and time again in places such as East Timor and the former Yugoslavia, even the most hopeless tragedies can be transformed into brighter futures. Perhaps not in time for the 5 o’clock news or the next Presidential election, but eventually a brighter day will dawn.
As Ed Chigliak of Northern Exposure might have put it, just look at Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Lost on an island with nothing to keep him company but his volleyball named Wilson, you’d think the man would succumb to despair. But instead, at that pivotal moment of the film, he says to Wilson: "Gotta keep breathing, because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide may bring?"Indeed, tomorrow the sun will rise. And who knows what the tide may bring for Iraq?
Friday, February 23, 2007
Where have all the journalists gone?
In an article in last weekend's WaPo Outlook, Pamela Constable, a foreign correspondent with an impressive track record, lamented a growing trend in U.S. journalism: Media outlets are systematically scaling back on quality foreign reporting and replacing it with captions and snapshots that only tell part of the story.
Constable describes it as "a false economy and a grave mistake." And from what I observe in the news, I wholeheartedly agree.
According to Constable’s tally, you can literally count on two hands the number of U.S. newspapers with foreign bureaus: The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today and the McClatchy newspapers (owner of the Sacramento Bee, The Miami Herald and The Kansas City Star, just to name a few). To add insult to injury, the number of foreign reporters has diminished from 188 to 141 since 2002. Hardly a good showing.
Ironically enough, as U.S. media scales back its international coverage, America and Americans are becoming increasingly globally engaged. Thanks to the global war on terror and improvements in the quality and accessibility of technology, we have the opportunity to know more about the world now than ever before.
Too bad U.S. media isn’t contributing much on this front. Constable notes that this is partly due to the fact that mainstream news outlets are beginning to suffer as more and more people are turning to blogs, web sites, and other alternative sources for news and information.
But really, doesn’t it seem counterintuitive to scale back quality coverage in the face of waning profit margins? I understand that overseas bureaus are costly – Constable estimates a minimum $250,000 a year – but if media tycoons need to trim the fat, why would they start with one of their most important appendages?
The problem is that what we are being offered instead is hardly a viable substitute. Rather than sending reporters to work on the ground, investigate breaking news and produce critical, solid reporting, we are being given a photo here and a caption there, and even those are increasingly selective. It’s like, after eating filet mignon for your whole life, you're suddenly forced to survive on Big Macs. Constable is right to call this “flimsy” and “superficial,” not to mention completely unhealthy.
Here's the bottom line: International engagement is critical for our country and our countrymen, and media outlets should be first in leading the way. Cutting international coverage is not the way to recover losses and regain an audience. I just wonder how grim their profits will get before the news industry realizes it, too.
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