The news from Iraq: You have spoken
It's James here: It began with the question "How do you feel about the news from Iraq?" A month later, it has become a WHYS phenomenon - almost 250 comments on the blog, and more coming in every day.
As the violence continues and the number of deaths on all sides mounts, you've made it clear that it's an issue you really want to talk about. So this Wednesday (Feb 28) we're going to devote a whole programme to it. Now it's up to you to tell us who you want to hear from, what questions you want to ask, and to come on air and take part in the debate.
Who should we talk to? Do you want to hear from ordinary Iraqis whose lives are most affected by the violence? Do you want to hear from a correspondent or editor here at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ about the decisions they make that determine the news you get? Is there a voice that you think is important, but never gets heard?
What questions should we be asking? Why do some things get reported and others don't? Is the American occupation the problem, or should we be concentrating more on the differences between Sunni and Shia? Why don't we hear more good/bad news from Iraq?
And of course, do you want to take part? We'll be bringing together the best of the comments that people have posted on the blog, but if you'd like to take part live between 1800-1900 GMT, then send us an email with your contact details, or give us a call on +44 20 7557 0635.
Here's a sample of the comment on the blog to get you going:
Brian wrote:
The news from Iraq constantly sickens me. I am often filled with tears and anger at the dysfunctional leader who send my friends, family and countrymen and women to their deaths for reasons that I still do not understand.
Tim says:
Of course I want to know about every death in Iraq. What a stupid question! Would you rather we heard about the meaningless froth of the Oscars?
Sandra is tired of statistics:
People don't connect with numbers, with news headlines....we connect to human stories. I want to hear the stories of Iraq: the widows struggling to survive after the death of their husbands, the loss of their children, of the American soldiers torn up about fighting in a war they have difficulty believing in. I'm tired of headlines, bring me the people's stories. Leave the Bagdhad Hotel and bring me journalism!
Oussaid wants to know:
How come nobody is adding the numbers of the total Iraqi casualties? Surely there would be less 'boredom' at knowing those facts.
KF voices an opinion echoed by several others:
The reporting from Iraq is exactly commensurate with the reporting from Viet Nam: it is a feedback loop to America's enemies. I have not seen one… positive story about American or British efforts in Iraq that is without a trailing sentence of international leftist BS.
And Joe says:
I'm actually really proud of what the U.S. is doing in Iraq. There are a lot of positive things going on. I'm sorry everybody gets so down about it.
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