Bias and Distorted Media Coverage

Mystery Man

It appears that some “journalists” reporting on this issue have questionable credentials and hidden agendas. The following is an extremely troubling example.

By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Excerpted from May 27, 2002 article, “Journalists See an Alarming Trend in Terror Warnings”

The Washington Times has printed two Middle East stories in recent weeks by Sayed Anwar – which, it turns out, is a pseudonym.

“He said his life would be in danger,” says Deputy Foreign Editor Willis Witter, adding that the stringer has also written for the paper under his real name. “He’s very good. He’s broken some pretty good stories for us.”

In the May 13 Times, the writer accused a group of now-expelled Palestinian militants of preying on Christians through “a two-year reign of terror that included rape, extortion and executions.” Australian Broadcasting correspondent Tim Palmer says the piece included rumor and unconfirmed charges – as he concluded when an Australian legislator demanded to know why he hadn’t reported the information. Witter says he would “defend every word.”

Managing Editor Francis Coombs says future “Anwar” stories will carry a disclaimer, and adds, “A legitimate case could be made that we at least should have informed the reader.”

Learn more about this case from PM Watch.