GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ

Psychological Operations soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division hand out candy and coloring books to local Iraqi children in the town of Tikrit.

"Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?" the anonymous polemic asks, in part. "Did you know that 3,100 schools have been renovated?"

"Of course we didn't know!" the message concludes. "Our media doesn't tell us!"

That's part of an anonymous e-mail that Rosemary Goudreau, the editorial page editor of The Tampa Tribune, has received repeatedly over the last year.

As reported in the New York Times, Goudreau raised the issue of the Iraq good news/bad news balance presented by the Associated Press at a July meeting of editors whose newspapers rely on the news service. Some voiced concerns that a "bunker mentality was preventing reporters in Iraq from getting out and explaining the bigger picture beyond the daily death tolls."

"The bottom-line question was, people wanted to know if we're making progress in Iraq," Ms. Goudreau said, and the A.P. articles were not helping to answer that question.

"It was uncomfortable questioning The A.P., knowing that Iraq is such a dangerous place," she said. "But there's a perception that we're not telling the whole story."

"Other editors said they get calls from readers who are hearing stories from returning troops of the good things they have accomplished while there, and readers find that at odds with the generally gloomy portrayal in the papers of what's going on in Iraq," he said.

Mr. Silverman said the editors were asking for help in making sense of the situation. "I was glad to have that discussion with the editors because they have to deal with the perception that the media is emphasizing the negative," he said.

"We're there to report the good and the bad and we try to give due weight to everything going on," he said. "It is unfortunate that the explosions and shootings and fatalities and injuries on some days seem to dominate the news."

Silverman had a litany of excuses for why the good news isn't getting out, including:

1) There is a severe limitation on the movement and ability of journalists to get out and report.

2) Iraq remains the most dangerous place in the world to work as a journalist.

3) Banditry, gunfire and bombings are common.

I have no doubt that journalists are at risk in Iraq. If I worked as a journalist, I'd rather sit in the cushy White House press briefing room than dodge bullets.

Iraq is a dangerous place to be. However, what does that have to do with the lack of reports about the good things happening in Iraq?

NOTHING!

If reporters are able to get out and get the negative stories, they are certainly capable of writing about the positive news. The same safety concerns would exist when reporting on a bombing or the opening of a new school. In fact, you'd think stepping into areas where violence has occurred would be riskier for journalists than following the story of school children.

Silverman pointed out that most of the information Goudreau had received in the anonymous e-mail HAD been covered by the AP. It turns out that the details were buried in articles or the articles hadn't been picked up by newspapers.

What does that say?

It says that the AP does not highlight progress in Iraq. It also says that the media outlets which utilize the services of the AP choose to run the bad news and overlook the good.

Is it any wonder that Americans believe things are going so poorly in Iraq? Should it be a surprise that people are critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war when all they get is the negative news?

Arthur Chernkoff provides an overview of some of the good news coming out of Iraq in the past two weeks.

It's worth reading since you most likely haven't heard it before.

He presents points of progress regarding Iraq's economy, electrical and water infrastructures, freedom of the press, humanitarian and health campaigns, communications advancements, residential construction, and the security situation. Also noted are many, many instances of coalition forces successfully thwarting the insurgents' violence and disrupting their activities.

Chernkoff begins his article by describing an encounter that Brent Bozell had with a veteran.

Bozell wrote:

My son's friend Todd Jones just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. At a celebratory gathering at his parents' home, we chatted a while, and I asked him what he thought were the biggest problems facing the military. Without hesitating, he shot back: "The terrorists and the media."

Chernkoff concludes his Iraq good news report with this assessment:

And so, the coalition and Iraqi security forces continue the fight against the terrorists. As for the media, that's something we will have to battle against.


I question why the Left and their liberal media are so quick to say they support the troops, but then they don't tout their accomplishments.

To me, that doesn't seem very supportive.