ABC News war correspondent Richard Gizbert is suing the network for firing him when he refused to go to Iraq.
Gizbert, who joined the network in 1993 and was assigned to its London bureau at the time he was dismissed, claims that he was axed because he refused an assignment to report from Iraq. Although he had previously reported from Chechnya and Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said he believed that the Iraq assignment was different since journalists had seemingly become targeted by both sides in that conflict.
In an interview last month with the Los Angeles Times, Gizbert said that he was told by Marcus Wilford, ABC’s London bureau chief: “‘We’ve decided to terminate you. ABC wants to replace you with a correspondent who will travel to war zones.’ I said, “You’re firing me because I won’t go to war zones?’ ‘No,’ he said, “we’re terminating you and replacing you with someone who will.’ And I said: “Isn’t that the same thing?'”
Under a code of practice that ABC News has signed, “assignments to war zones or hostile environments must be voluntary.”
Since the war began in March 2003, 66 reporters have been killed in the conflict, with many of them being specifically targeted by the insurgents.
Gizbert was interviewed about this in the September 16 edition of On the Media.
Well, it’s that time of year again. I’ve signed up for the Survivor Fantasy League, which always seems like it will be a lot of fun, but it’s hard to get too excited given how badly run the Web site for it is. Still, I’m playing with my in-laws, who are enormously into it, especially my father-in-law, who now has enough Survivor memorabilia to set up his own island here in the High Desert.
Scoring and such begins with tonight’s show. My picks at this point are Morgan, Margaret, Bobby Jon and Stephenie. The latter three are pretty much guaranteed a lot of camera time, and how can you go wrong with a magician’s assistant? (Don’t ask how I finished in last season’s league.)
Every year, I sit on the couch and tell Jenn how I could be on that show when I watch the first few episodes. Last week’s 11-mile overnight hike through the jungle seemed determined to shut people like me up. It worked.
(I could still do it, though!)
OK, I guess you can go wrong with a magician’s assistant … For next week, the question will be, how can you go wrong with an allegedly incognito former NFL quarterback who’s guaranteed a lot of camera time? (I have 30 points after this week.)
Well, Rock Star: INXS is going to be interesting even after the show ends, given that, in the end, the band picked the drama-creating J.D. as their new lead singer. His performance with them was fine (as was Marty’s), but I think his smoking arrangement of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is likely what carried the day. Marty failed to show INXS anything new, which was a mistake, and I think he knew it before he stepped out on stage.
So, J.D. has got the musical and performance chops. We know that. I just think we’re looking at a very volatile, very “look at me” guy being added to a mix of people who are very comfortable together after all these years. It’ll be interesting to see if J.D. is their lead singer after this first album and tour. I could see him deciding he’s too big of a star and wanting a solo career before the tour is even over.
It’ll be interesting to see if Marty gets back together with his band, the Lovehammers, now. Depending on how the band feels about him — and they did hold parties for him every Tuesday night during the show at a local bar — this might be a great break for them.
Anyway, good show, and I’ll always have “Trees” on my iPod, whatever else happens.
In other news, I laughed myself sick at My Name is Earl, which is easily as good as its hype. It and Supernatural are the two big hits for me so far this season.
It appears Tyra Banks is already out of things to talk about on her new show. Either that, or talking about herself (more specifically, her breasts) is her favorite subject.
And finally, Locke is still the man.
I know, I know, you all sit around saying, “gee, if I can’t live in Hesperia near Beau, it sure would be nice if there was some computer wallpaper I could use that would be the next best thing.”
So, here you go.
The image is a photo I took earlier this year that originally appeared in the January 25, 2005 edition of the Hesperia Star. The snow on the mountain tops lasted until mid-summer.
It’s what I use on my machine at work.
Jenn last night as we were watching The War at Home on TiVo last night: “DELETE THIS.”
The first episodes of Threshold and Supernatural were pretty good, though, as was the season opener of Medium.
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