Network Anchors Leave Egypt Amid Crackdown

[WillyT]

February 3, 2011, 6:28 PM
Network Anchors Leave Egypt Amid Crackdown
By BRIAN STELTER

<snip>

Two of the most prominent television news anchors covering the protests in Egypt this week, Brian Williams and Katie Couric, have exited the country. The anchors’ departures came on a day of increasing violence and intimidation directed at journalists in Egypt.

Mr. Williams will anchor Thursday’s “NBC Nightly News” from Amman, Jordan, where he arrived from Cairo late in the evening, according to an NBC official. Mr. Williams had broadcast at length on MSNBC Wednesday night as gunfire punctuated downtown Cairo.

Ms. Couric will anchor the “CBS Evening News” from New York City. She wrote on Twitter that her flight from the Middle East landed around 5 p.m. Eastern time, giving her just enough time to make it to the studio for her 6:30 p.m. broadcast. “May go back, but for now very happy to be home,” she wrote.

Christiane Amanpour, the anchor of ABC’s Sunday morning program “This Week,” remains in Cairo, having scored an exclusive interview with the Egyptian president on Thursday. She will co-anchor a one-hour special edition of “Nightline” on Thursday night.

Anderson Cooper, the top anchor for CNN, also remains in Cairo, according to a CNN executive.

<snip>

Link: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/network-anchors-leave-egypt-amid-crackdown/

:shrug:

[blogslut]

1. As long as reporters representing the western news networks remain...

I'm not surprised Couric and Williams are headed home. When they went there, this was a peaceful uprising. These days, when danger is imminent, the star crew rarely go into the fray.

[tabasco]

2. I saw no reporters in the fray.

At least in the US whore media.

All I saw was cell phone video from a hotel room.

[blogslut]

3. Well then you weren't paying attention

Have fun with your bad self.

[tabasco]

Either that or I work long hours and don't watch much TV.

Of course, we all know how brave the corporate media reporters are!

How silly of me to think otherwise!

[WillyT]

4. Anderson Cooper Was In The Crowd, And Has Been Attacked Twice... So Far

Just sayin.

:shrug:

[tabasco]

11. He's a combat vet like O'Lielly now!

Give him a medal!

[WillyT]

16. No Silly... My Point Is That He's Actually Gotten His Ass Kicked In Egypt And Is Staying...

while those fleeing... not so much.

Not pickin a fight here... don't want to get my ass kicked either.

:D

:hi:

[AngryOldDem]

5. Does the name Richard Engel ring a bell? n/t

[tabasco]

13. Nope.

Who's he with?

[Adsos Letter]

6. Several reporters from many countries, including the United States

were threatened, attcked, etc. while out in the fray, or attempting to get to it.

[cali]

7. then you don't pay attention very well

do some research. it's really not hard- though it may disturb your preconceptions.

[tabasco]

8. What do you know about my preconceptions?

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Engel, Wedeman. yes Cooper, just to drop a few names

[Raine]

15. Well maybe you didn't see it but that's because you just plain missed

it. I saw Couric down on the street being pushed around and harassed.

[Zoigal]

10. Anybody seen Richard Engle tonight? Too early for Rachel's show

where i live. Doubt if he leaves. Has lived in Cairo, speaks Arabic fluently,
and has friends there. Just my opinion......z

[Cleita]

18. He won't leave. The only reason you won't see him is

if they throw him in jail. Maybe Lawrence will have him on before Rachel.

[SoCalDem]

12. wheat / chaff .. n/t

[WillyT]

14. LOL !!! - That Was Damned Pithy Of You

:D

:rofl:

:hi:

[Cleita]

17. It's okay. Those media stars were useless anyway.

The real heroes are the foreign correspondents like Richard Engel who are doing the real reporting. I laughed at Brian Williams practically hiding behind him last night without hardly anything to say while Richard was reporting on the rioting going on in front of them.

[Retrograde]

20. Yeah, I was wondering what the big names were doing there

Didn't someone tell them that not only was there real shooting going on, but all the good restaurants were likely to be closed? :sarcasm:

[Cleita]

21. No they didn't. LOL!

:rofl:

[bklyncowgirl]

19. You have to respect these reporters who are staying in the face of serious threats

These journalists are risking their safety, even their lives to witness to the truth. They may just save some lives in doing so.

I'll cut the anchors some slack--the networks may have decided they couldn't risk them.