View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
April 10, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Rusbridger slams Telegraph leader

By Press Gazette

General Vince Brooks’ view that journalists should not be in Baghdad’s Palestine Hotel appeared to be supported by a contentious leader in Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph – which earlier withdrew its correspondent from Baghdad.

The Telegraph said there was strong evidence to show those journalists were being used as “human shields” as Saddam’s loyalists retreated to buildings they thought least likely to be attacked. “It may be even that the regime is using the Palestine Hotel as its last refuge – in short, journalists are, unintentionally, helping Saddam.”

Incensed Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said: “That’s a really dangerous and unhelpful thing to write. Editors may have their individual reasons for not wanting to have kept reporters in Baghdad, but when they are operating in conditions of incredible danger, to start writing leaders saying that leaves you to wonder at their motives.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network