My latest New Matilda column discusses the changing of the media guard:
Patriotism should play absolutely no role in war reporting, but with notable exceptions — such as Patrick Cockburn’s reports for The Independent (UK) — much of the mainstream coverage of the Iraq War relies on largesse from the ”˜Coalition of the Willing.’ It is therefore largely useless.
The Iraq War is the most dangerous environment for journalists in modern history (a recent report states that more journalists have died in Iraq since 2003 — 76 — than in the 1955-1975 Vietnam War). The risks involved have resulted in a neutered perspective that allows us tiny glimpses of a country descending into chaos. And astute observers have become ever-more reliant on Iraqi blogs and Arab news reports for perspectives that are less Washington or London-centric.…
My New Matilda archive is here.