Two CBS Journalists Missing In Iraq

by Jarrett Martineau | February 11, 2008 at 08:49 pm

367 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Journalists are often put in the unenviable position of working from within the world's most politically-charged and conflict-ridden regions. Unfortunately, despite their desire to be given the freedom to report on news events without being subject to persecution, as media personalities, journalists are also considered valuable strategic targets by those seeking to promote their own political purposes.

Let's hope that our CBS colleagues remain unharmed and are returned to their families soon.

Two CBS News journalists were missing in the predominantly Shiite southern city of Basra, the network said Monday.

CBS said all efforts were under way to find the journalists, who were not identified by the network. It requested "that others do not speculate on the identities of those involved" until more information was available.

Iraqi police said the journalists were taken away Sunday after masked gunmen entered the Sultan Palace Hotel in central Basra. The police spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

"CBS News has been in touch with the families and asks that their privacy be respected," the network added in a brief statement from CBS Corp. headquarters in New York.