Military to check Iraq coverage

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 1, 2006

---

WASHINGTON - The U.S. command in Baghdad is seeking bidders for a two-year, $20-million public relations contract that calls for monitoring the tone of Iraq news stories filed by U.S. and foreign media.

Proposals, due Wednesday, ask companies to show how they'll "provide continuous monitoring and near-real time reporting of Iraqi, pan-Arabic, international, and U.S. media."

Contractors also will be evaluated on how they will provide analytical reports and customized briefings to the military, "including, but not limited to tone (positive, neutral, negative) and scope of media coverage."

Another likely requirement: develop an Arabic version of the multinational force's Web site.

The military last year hired a consulting firm that paid Iraqi news media to carry news stories written by American troops.