CNN replies to Robert Fisk

By EASON JORDAN, Chief News Executive, CNN

Robert Fisk's column The shame of war reporting is not the first time he has singled CNN out for misjudged and misleading criticism.

As a global news leader, we are happy to take all the legitimate complaints that come our way. But once again he is way off mark and the record needs setting straight.

His main complaint is about a CNN script approval unit called "The Row" - named after where they sit - which for some reason he claims is new and finds deeply sinister.

The fact is that like most other professional news organisations we have a process that reviews and approves reports before they are recorded for transmission. It is not new, CNN has had this policy for 23 years, it is designed to ensure that our reporting is all that it should be - fair, impartial and accurate, we make no apologies for that.

Our editors, far from being "anonymous" as Fisk states, are well known to all CNN journalists. Fisk even identifies one by name. These editors talk to correspondents on an hourly basis to discuss scripts and reports and story developments. A healthy news organisation does that.

He states that reports cannot be edited until scripts are approved. This system is no different to the job that sub-editors do on newspapers before publication; there is no mystery, conspiracy or censorship involved.

Fisk also refers to new technology to justify his claims that CNN distorts the news; sadly the truth is less colourful than his claim. He is referring to an electronic template that helps us manage the enormous volume of news copy and retrieve library archive.

CNN reporters will not wear military uniform if war happens in Iraq as Fisk claims. They will wear protective clothing, helmets and flak jackets, provided by CNN. We hope to save them from serious injury or worse.

Finally he claims - and has claimed before - that Pentagon officials worked in the CNN newsroom during the 1991 Gulf War. Not true. During the 1999 Kosovo conflict an over-zealous human resources manager arranged for a small military internship at CNN. Interns have no editorial function and are there to observe. When editors at CNN discovered the programme it was immediately ended.

Robert Fisk is a gifted commentator who enjoys the luxury of giving his opinion based on his view of the world. Journalists at CNN have a different mission, which is to report the world truthfully, impartially and with fairness. Fisk's article would not have passed fact-checking at The Row.