[Media-watch] BBC cuts back Iraq staff

[David Miller]

3pm 
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BBC cuts back Iraq staff

Claire Cozens
Friday April 23, 2004
Guardian - UK

Iraq: BBC will be left with just two reporters in Baghdad
 The BBC has dramatically scaled back its staff in Iraq and banned
programme-makers from organising any new trips there amid the deteriorating
security situation.

Just two reporters, David Willis and Dominic Hughes, and a small team of
technical staff remain in the corporation's Baghdad bureau after Caroline
Hawley and Barbara Plett left the country.

The cutbacks mean the BBC's TV channels and radio stations will be severely
restricted in their coverage of the crisis in Iraq, with the flagship 10pm
news missing out on live coverage altogether.

The BBC will also have to rely on news agencies and local reporters and
cameramen for anything outside Baghdad.




<http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1201992,00.html>