"As violence has subsided and the U.S. focus is shifting to Afghanistan, “America’s three broadcast network news divisions have stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq.” The decision will likely move Iraq even further from the minds of Americans. In 2007, according to television news consultant Andrew Tyndall, the three network evening newscasts devoted 1,888 minutes to Iraq. This past year, through Dec. 19, Iraq received only 423 minutes of coverage. ABC, CBS and NBC refused to speak on the record about their decisions, but the New York Times reports that “the staff cuts appear to be the latest evidence of budget pressures at the networks. According to some executives, Iraq has been “the most expensive war ever for TV news organizations.”" - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

They will decry the cult of the amateur, and lament their dropping viewership, while insisting on the need of reducing both the quality and quantity of their coverage (in favour of talking heads in the safety of their mini-studios with picture backgrounds).... and they wonder why their own economic crunch becomes worse and worse.... It's not just the economy, stupid. - David HC Soul

And this is why I watch BBC for my news. At least they understand the value of having correspondents on the ground. - Steven Perez