Fewer reporters embedded in Iraq (lowest number since the invasion)

[Barrett808]

Fewer reporters embedded in Iraq
By LEE KEATH and ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The number of embedded journalists reporting alongside U.S. troops in Iraq has dropped to its lowest level of the war even as the conflict heats up on the streets of Baghdad and in the U.S. political campaign.

In the past few weeks, the number of journalists reporting assigned to U.S. military units in Iraq has settled to below two dozen. Late last month, it fell to 11, its lowest, and has rebounded only slightly since.

During the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, more than 600 reporters, TV crews and photographers linked up with U.S. and British units. A year ago, when Iraqis went to the polls to ratify a new constitution, there were 114 embedded journalists.

"This is more than pathetic," said Sig Christenson, a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News and president of Military Reporters and Editors, a journalists' group. "It strikes me as dangerous" for the American public to get so little news of their military, said Christenson, who recently returned from an embedded assignment in Iraq.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061015/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_embedded_journalists

[MadMaddie]

1. Unfortunately the soldiars are so thin they can barely

protect themselves, equipment malfunction, body armor, vehicles etc.......they don't have the bandwith to protect the journalist....

[PSPS]

2. It doesn't matter

Any story critical of bush gets the spike anyway and never sees the light of day. "Embedded" reporters are little more than propaganda stenographers anyway, so why bother with the charade? They just cut and paste the white house handout and put their name on it.

As far as I know, virtually all the remaining reporters do all of their "work" safely ensconced in the bubble of the green zone anyway.

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. That Green Zone Reporting Is Absolutely False

As I understand it, the media that remains in Eye-Rack got their own minifortresses now.

[Barrett808]

6. OTOH, reporters have complained about lack of access to stories...

...because the Pentagon won't discuss them -- even "good news" stories.

[keta11]

3. There is no more glamor for weenie reporters

wearing camo spewing "video-game propaganda" from Eye-raq.

[krkaufman]

5. This makes me wonder what the military is currently up to ...

... or about to do.