Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
"Arab Voices": Arab TV War Coverage Versus Western Networks
Aired March 31, 2003 - 15:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In today's "Arab Voices" segment, a closer look at some of the recent events in the war in Iraq and how the Arab TV networks have a very different focus from the Western networks.
Here's CNN's Octavia Nasr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Al-Jazeera began in the hour in a briefing from Iraq by an Iraqi official. They stayed with the briefing for some time. In this case, he was denying reports that a large number of Iraqi soldiers had been killed.
On Lebanese broadcasting, the same briefing, but it lasts only a few minutes. They took the top of the briefing, left early, and moved to a news update. Quick reports on a series of stories.
CNN viewers never saw the Iraqi briefing; mostly they saw reports from our reporters embedded with U.S. troops. But CNN's viewers did see scenes from Baghdad. Both smoke from recent bombings, and scenes of damage from another bombing, one in dispute.
U.S. officials say they believe this bombing at a Baghdad market may have been an Iraqi missile. But much more video and much more gruesome video from Al Arabiya on the market bombing. And this story dominated the first half of the newscasts. Same for Abu Dhabi TV. More individually from Baghdad, a greater focus on the market attack.
(on camera): Now Arab TV stations tend to focus on stories where Arabs are the story. U.S. media tend to focus on stories where Americans are the story. And sometimes it's the same story and sometimes it is not. For example, when President Bush and Prime Minister Blair held a press conference, all the TV stations in the Arab world joined CNN and the U.S. networks in carrying it live.
For "Arab Voices," I'm Octavia Nasr.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It's important and helpful for us to know what all of these news organizations are reporting around the world
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Networks>
Aired March 31, 2003 - 15:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In today's "Arab Voices" segment, a closer look at some of the recent events in the war in Iraq and how the Arab TV networks have a very different focus from the Western networks.
Here's CNN's Octavia Nasr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Al-Jazeera began in the hour in a briefing from Iraq by an Iraqi official. They stayed with the briefing for some time. In this case, he was denying reports that a large number of Iraqi soldiers had been killed.
On Lebanese broadcasting, the same briefing, but it lasts only a few minutes. They took the top of the briefing, left early, and moved to a news update. Quick reports on a series of stories.
CNN viewers never saw the Iraqi briefing; mostly they saw reports from our reporters embedded with U.S. troops. But CNN's viewers did see scenes from Baghdad. Both smoke from recent bombings, and scenes of damage from another bombing, one in dispute.
U.S. officials say they believe this bombing at a Baghdad market may have been an Iraqi missile. But much more video and much more gruesome video from Al Arabiya on the market bombing. And this story dominated the first half of the newscasts. Same for Abu Dhabi TV. More individually from Baghdad, a greater focus on the market attack.
(on camera): Now Arab TV stations tend to focus on stories where Arabs are the story. U.S. media tend to focus on stories where Americans are the story. And sometimes it's the same story and sometimes it is not. For example, when President Bush and Prime Minister Blair held a press conference, all the TV stations in the Arab world joined CNN and the U.S. networks in carrying it live.
For "Arab Voices," I'm Octavia Nasr.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It's important and helpful for us to know what all of these news organizations are reporting around the world
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Networks>
