In a 1,300-word e-mail to NBC News president Neal Shapiro, written in December 2003 and obtained by NYTV, Dr. Arnot called NBC News’ coverage of Iraq biased. He argued that keeping him in Iraq and on NBC could go far in rectifying that. . .
"We’ve been at a significant disadvantage given NBC’s reputation in Iraq," Dr. Arnot wrote Mr. Shapiro. He argued that due to his excellent relationships with military and C.P.A. personnel, NBC News could repair its standing with government authorities by airing more of his material.
"I’m uniquely positioned to report the story," he wrote. "NBC Nightly News routinely takes the stories that I shoot and uses the footage, even to lead the broadcast," but "refuses to allow the story to be told by the reporter on the scene."
In other words, he suggested, NBC News did not like putting him on the air.
The media likes the angle that the war goals are falling apart. This allows them to find drama and take the adversarial approach that they are use to. Dr. Arnott has been finding stories that contradict the basic premise and they hold no interest to the bosses. Think of it from the business standpoint. If the media cannot give John Kerry an issue to run on, the news coverage of the campaign is going to lose money. Already the networks are limiting their convention coverage. To point out successes as well and setbacks in Iraq would give the viewer the idea that war is proceeding normally.
The media is far from objective anyway, but if you can marry a sort of liberal skepticism against authority to the bottom line, then it doesn't matter how successful the war in Iraq proceeds, there will always be enough negative stories to report to give the audience the idea that they're doing their job and that the presidential campaign that they have so much money riding on isn't going to be a slam dunk.
ONE MORE THING: If you're interested in seeing how the media orchestrates "spontaneous" moments, you need to see this photograph on Roger Simon's webblog.
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