The Society of Professional Journalists today challenged U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, to withdraw his request that CNN reporters embedded with the military be removed.
The congressman made the request following the network’s decision to run videotape made by insurgent snipers.
The letter to Hunter reads in part:
Also, we believe your actions merely serve to punish CNN because you and other republican lawmakers disagree with the network’s decision to air a controversial video showing insurgent snipers targeting U.S. soldiers.
While you may not agree with CNN’s decision to air the video, your response is misguided. Whether in war zones or on the home front, Americans deserve to read about and hear the news as it happens. Professional journalists have an obligation to report that news accurately and without bias. Removing reporters from war zones only would cause a delay in how Americans are informed about the work being carried out by their government. Additionally, such a removal could lead to inaccuracies of what is really happening in war-torn areas of the world.
Read the full letter here.