Iraq

Networks scramble to cover first salvos

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© St. Petersburg Times
published March 20, 2003

Initially believing the night would be quiet, the nation's TV networks scrambled Wednesday to cover the first airstrikes in Baghdad that signaled the start of hostilities in Iraq.

CBS and NBC were first on the air with coverage about 9:35 p.m., reporting on antiaircraft fire in Baghdad before reporters could ascertain what, if anything, the Iraqis were targeting. Curiously, area ABC affiliate WFTS cut away from the network's slow-starting coverage to simulcast CNN's reports before President Bush's 10:15 p.m. speech, superimposing its station logo over the images.

Before Bush's speech, CBS anchor Dan Rather hesitated to speculate on whether the strike was the initial sign of full hostilities, noting: "It does look like one carefully calibrated attack." ABC anchor Peter Jennings seemed to be the last network anchor to make it on screen, prompting reporter Chris Wallace to handle the network's early minutes of coverage.

CBS, which had ordered correspondent Lara Logan out of Baghdad earlier Wednesday, aired footage from Sky News. NBC aired comments from National Geographic Explorer correspondent Peter Arnett, briefly switching to footage provided by Arab-centered network Al-Jazeera.

By the time Bush's speech grew near, anchors were more certain that they were seeing the start of war, with CNN anchor Aaron Brown concluding, "There is no question the campaign has begun" in Iraq.

Earlier Wednesday, TV news outlets released detailed outlines of their coverage plans. CBS announced that Rather is expected to anchor from noon to 2 a.m. each day of continuous coverage, while NBC outlined crews embedded with U.S. military forces in 11 locations and ABC touted Nightline's move to air its shows from the Middle East for the duration of war.

Given the pinpoint nature of the early strikes, reporters embedded with U.S. forces had a tough time providing much context to the activity, often noting that there wasn't much activity in their location, yet.

Fox News Channel, simulcast on area Fox affiliate WTVT-Ch. 13, reported the military was likely targeting 7,000 sites across the country, reading reports from Reuters and the Associated Press while trying to pin down details on the action.

TV outlets Wednesday night had footage of the bombing and antiaircraft fire immediately available, playing and replaying the clips to illustrate the initial hostilities.

The relatively rapid response of the networks, which had military experts such as retired Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf on screen minutes after the first antiaircraft fire began, highlighted how well-prepared broadcasters were for the start of fighting -- despite early assurances bombing might not start Wednesday evening.

And they knew, given the weeks and months of buildup, that the American people were watching. "It will be the most televised event, probably, in the history of the world," marveled NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.