Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/30/5 |
Title | Brian Whitaker |
Date | 2 June 2003 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 5 AIFF files (667.7 MB) |
Creator Name | Whitaker; Brian; journalist |
Description | Interview with Brian Whitaker, Guardian Middle East editor. Conducted by Leslie Plommer on 2 June 2003. This interview is part of a series of interviews with Guardian staff who covered the Iraq War of March-April 2003. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Track 1 00.00 Introductions 00.30 Role in war coverage. How this compared to his usual role 01.00 Sent to Egypt. Intended use as a base for travel in the Middle East 01.30 Issue of visas. Easier to negotiate in London 02.20 Based in London during war coverage 03.35 Information gained from Arab newspapers 04.00 His role during the war. Easier to gain a broad picture from a distance 05.30 Importance of having staff based at a distance. Different viewpoints 05.56 Arab television news coverage. Ghost writing a piece on behalf of photographer Sean Smith 06.50 Popularity of daily diary piece on newspaper website 08.00 Need for a voice to question news reports 08.30 Diary became everyday piece due to popular demand 09.10 Daily war conference 09.45 Happy with diary pieces
10.00 Examples of diary pieces 10.25 Doubts over report concerning attack on market place in Baghdad 11.50 The fall of Basra. Sceptical of reports 12.12 Report on tanks leaving Basra. Story turned out to be false 12.50 Use of language It is reported that 13.45 Misinterpretation of scale of reports 14.00 Doubts over destruction of statue during fall of Baghdad 16.00 Fall of statue an interesting moment in war coverage. Symbolic of Iraqi-American relationship. Statue representing the development of the war
Track 2 00.00 Continued discussion of the fall of statue in Baghdad 00.30 Use of American flag 01.00 Appearance of an Iraqi flag. Use of old Iraqi flag 02.00 Number of complaints over use of images of American flag 03.00 Issue of triumphalism in war. Compares to use of American flag in Iwo Jima coverage 04.00 British attitudes to British use of flag versus American attitudes 04.48 American anger expressed towards newspaper coverage 05.25 Praise from Americans for Guardian war coverage. Issues of press freedom 06.30 Compares war coverage to press during the Falklands War07.30 Daily Mirror war coverage 08.20 Differences between print media and television coverage 09.00 British attitudes towards the Iraq War
10.00 Lack of coverage in Arab world 10.25 How Arab television including Al Jazeera covered the war 11.40 Use of emotive images
Track 3 0.30 Writing a profile of Tariq Aziz, Iraqi deputy prime minister 02.49 Writing pieces on controversies including story on politician George Galloway 04.20 Preparation for writing articles 05.00 Discusses Mr Chalabi, a British based Arab businessman 09.00 Those making mischief through reporting
10.20 Role of London-based Arab press 12.20 Mood of Arabs in London. Kuwaiti support for war 14.50 Pamphlets attacking British policy. Asian Muslims in Britain Track 4 00.00 Discussion of Syria. Movement of Iraqis into the country. Need for a correspondent in Damascus 00.55 Views of Syrians 01.00 His visit to Syria 02.30 Large hotel booked by Baghdad. Protecting Iraqi refugees 03.00 What he found in Syria 04.00 Syria represented only escape route for Iraqis. Problems of escaping elsewhere, for example Turkey or Iran 05.20 American perceptions of Iran and Syria 07.30 Layout of Syrian hotel 08.00 Memories of Syria 09.00 Bicycles in Syria
Track 5 00.10 Continued discussion of luxury hotel in Syria 01.45 Bad experience with taxi driver. Told there were no return buses to Damascus. Experience of being stopped by police whilst on bus 03.30 Provided recount of experience to the Guardian 04.15 Experiencing paranoia. Tensions in Syria 05.30 Discussion of Saddam Hussein and his whereabouts |
Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Minidisc recording |
Printed document |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Brian Whitaker |
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