“Wide angles and narrow views: how embeds reported the Iraq conflict”

This chapter discusses the role of the BBC and CBS embedded reporters in the 2003 Iraq conflict in the light of the debate about reporter objectivity, stance and voice and in the context of studies regarding ideological stance inherent in journalism. It has been mooted that one of the reasons why reporting from Iraq enticed high television audiences, was the role of embed reporters. The decision to assign reporters to coalition troops was taken to gear an unpopular war towards a sceptical public. However, it also put under a spotlight the unnatural relationship between the military and the media. Keeping in mind journalists’ creed to remain impartial and objective, the obvious question was whether their duty to seek the ‘truth’ was compatible with their physical position. How were they able to balance their necessary trust in their host troops with the viewers’ need for objective information.