Spring Break
Native-born journalist discusses her time in Iraq
Issue date: 4/17/08
One problem unique to CBS news correspondents, she told the News-Letter after the event, was the "anti-Dan Rather, anti-CBS news bias."
"When Abu Ghraib came out, 60 Minutes and CBS got the most publicity for doing the torture story," Dozier said. "There were whole Web sites, anti-Dan Rather Web sites."
This bias, coupled with the difficulty of traveling in the Green Zone, meant that Dozier as a CBS reporter "got turned down for official interview requests so many times, it was hard to work up the energy to keep trying."
Both during and after the speech, Dozier emphasized the importance of journalistic professionalism. Responding to a question regarding troops remaining in Iraq, Dozier simply stated, "for me to pass judgment on whether or not the troops should withdraw, I'll leave that to the political candidates."
Rather than share her own opinions with the audience, she shared the Iraqi opinions that she had personally observed.
"I've had Iraqis tell me, we're not quite ready yet," Dozier said. Others told her, "You made this mess, clean it up."
Dozier's emphasis on unbiased reporting truly impressed members of the audience.
"I thoroughly enjoyed her," Judy Wright, a local resident whose son fought in Iraq, said after the speech. "She maintained her professionalism and did not talk about her own views. She told us what she heard personally from people who lived there, the good and the bad. That's so often what's missed. What we get is a biased viewpoint, but [Dozier] remained professional."
Freshman Jeremy Stein agreed. "She provided what Iraqis thought about the war," he said. "She was as unbiased as possible during her presentation."
"I thought she delivered a personal and moving speech," said Katie Collins, a sophomore and FAS staff member. "Her message was great. It's hard to get an honest journalistic message and hers was important and well-received."
Dozier does not expect to return to Iraq in the near future, she told the News-Letter, since "CBS is a little leery of sending me into war zones." Her book detailing her experiences there, Breathing the Fire: Reporting, and Surviving the War in Iraq, is due to be released later this month.
"When Abu Ghraib came out, 60 Minutes and CBS got the most publicity for doing the torture story," Dozier said. "There were whole Web sites, anti-Dan Rather Web sites."
This bias, coupled with the difficulty of traveling in the Green Zone, meant that Dozier as a CBS reporter "got turned down for official interview requests so many times, it was hard to work up the energy to keep trying."
Both during and after the speech, Dozier emphasized the importance of journalistic professionalism. Responding to a question regarding troops remaining in Iraq, Dozier simply stated, "for me to pass judgment on whether or not the troops should withdraw, I'll leave that to the political candidates."
Rather than share her own opinions with the audience, she shared the Iraqi opinions that she had personally observed.
"I've had Iraqis tell me, we're not quite ready yet," Dozier said. Others told her, "You made this mess, clean it up."
Dozier's emphasis on unbiased reporting truly impressed members of the audience.
"I thoroughly enjoyed her," Judy Wright, a local resident whose son fought in Iraq, said after the speech. "She maintained her professionalism and did not talk about her own views. She told us what she heard personally from people who lived there, the good and the bad. That's so often what's missed. What we get is a biased viewpoint, but [Dozier] remained professional."
Freshman Jeremy Stein agreed. "She provided what Iraqis thought about the war," he said. "She was as unbiased as possible during her presentation."
"I thought she delivered a personal and moving speech," said Katie Collins, a sophomore and FAS staff member. "Her message was great. It's hard to get an honest journalistic message and hers was important and well-received."
Dozier does not expect to return to Iraq in the near future, she told the News-Letter, since "CBS is a little leery of sending me into war zones." Her book detailing her experiences there, Breathing the Fire: Reporting, and Surviving the War in Iraq, is due to be released later this month.
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