CNN Drops Smog Images but Denies Apology
11/28/97
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Headline: CNN Drops Smog Images but Denies Apology
Source: Reuters
Date: 11/28/97
Copyright: Reuters Limited 1997
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Cable News Network (CNN) said on Thursday it had
dropped images of smog in Malaysia from an introduction to a regular news
programme but denied it had apologised for its coverage of the issue.
CNN said the managing director of Turner Broadcasting System's Asia Pacific
operations, Michael Byrd, and CNN Bangkok bureau chief Tom Mintier met
Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat earlier this week at the minister's
request.
Local media said the CNN representatives apologised for the U.S.-based
network's coverage in the meeting.
State news agency Bernama quoted Mohamed as saying on Wednesday that CNN
had "given the undertaking to put out fairer and accurate reports about the
country in their programmes especially relating to the haze".
The New Straits Times newspaper said CNN had agreed to give wider coverage
to Malaysia, "part of the network's apology for its less-than-fair reports
on the haze".
Forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia earlier this year created a blanket
of smoke that covered much of Southeast Asia, prompting many tourists to
cancel trips. Monsoon rains and winds have largely dispersed the smog from
Malaysia.
The government, which has also criticised reporting of Malaysian political
and economic issues in the foreign media, has complained that foreign news
organisations have failed to point out that the haze has dissipated.
"There was no apology for coverage, but there was a pledge to be accurate
and fair," Mintier told Reuters by telephone.
"That's what we stand for, being balanced and fair."
CNN's director of public relations in Hong Kong, Grace Wong said CNN
"reports news fairly and accurately."
Mintier said CNN had decided before the meeting with Mohamed to replace
images showing Malaysians wearing masks to protect against the smog, with
more recent footage in a promotional segment regularly aired before World
News Asia.
"We determined that this was somewhat dated and didn't reflect the current
situation," Mintier said.
"We decided to pull the promo and put more recent images on. I wouldn't
call that apologising for coverage."
CNN had also encouraged state-run Radio and Television Malaysia to provide
a story on the current smog situation to CNN World Report, which provides
news coverage by local broadcasters around the world, Mintier said.
Malaysia recently barred academics from speaking to the media about the
smog issue.
Information ministry officials could not be reached for comment.