Peter Arnett

Journalist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his five-hour interview, Peter Arnett talks about his early years, and his first journalism jobs, at newspapers like The Southland Times and The Sydney Sun. He describes his time at the Associated Press, first in Laos, and later in Indonesia. He chronicles reporting on the Vietnam War for the AP, where his coverage of the Tet Offensive received complaints from the Johnson Administration. He recalls being hired by then-fledgling cable news outlet CNN, where he filed several reports as a correspondent in South America. Arnett details reporting for CNN from the Al Rashid Hotel in Baghdad the evening that American bombing on the city commenced during the Gulf War, and the various challenges he faced during that reporting, from Iraqi security forces censoring his reports, to growing criticism from America on the substance of those reports. He speaks of his interviews with both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, as well as the biggest challenges facing journalists during the Trump administration. Tom Herman conducted the interview on November 19, 2018 in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

“I walked through the halls of the Al Rashid Hotel and I said, ‘God, I’m the only journalist here. I’m reporting on America’s greatest enemy, and I’m able to talk about it to an audience, not just in Atlanta, Georgia or Washington, D.C. - the whole world is watching.’ Where else would I ever want to be?”

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Peter Arnett on the differences between print journalism and television journalism
07:03
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50
Peter Arnett on meeting Ted Turner soon after he was hired to be on CNN
02:28
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad
13:08
Peter Arnett on interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War
19:27
Peter Arnett on conveying the importance of a free press to students
02:16
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his first jobs in journalism, at "The Southland Times" and "Trade Union Weekly" newspapers; on writing for "The Sydney Sun" newspaper, and on deciding he wanted to one day work on Fleet Street
On going to write for the "Bangkok World" newspaper, and later "The Laos Vientiane World"; on reporting on a Laotian coup d'état for the Associated Press
On going to work for the Associated Press in Indonesia; on being expelled from Indonesia while reporting for the Associated Press
On reporting from Saigon for the Associated Press during the Vietnam War; on the competition between the Associated Press and United Press International; on competing news outlets in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

Chapter 2

On covering the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam for the Associated Press; on getting stories out of Vietnam, and on television news being late with the stories; on government interference in his reporting from Vietnam
On appealing to the Kennedy administration when South Vietnam was hampering their reporting from the region; on covering the attempted coup in Vietnam
On covering the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and military complaints about the coverage; on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam

Chapter 3

On how the Vietnam War changed reporting on wars that came after; on being hired as a reporter for CNN in its early days
On meeting Ted Turner soon after he was hired to be on CNN; on the differences between print journalism and television journalism
On the process of putting a television news story together, and on reporting for CNN from Central America; on working with Peter Jennings

Chapter 4

On laying the groundwork for CNN's coverage of the Gulf War; on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad
On public reaction to his, Bernard Shaw's, and John Holliman's coverage of the bombing of Baghdad from the Al Rashid Hotel; on using words instead of pictures to describe the action on the ground in Baghdad the first day, and on dealing with Iraqi security; on Iraqi security forces attempting to censor his reports from Baghdad
On staying behind in Baghdad during the Gulf War after his colleagues from CNN left; on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad; on reporting on the bombing of a baby milk factory during the Gulf War, and on the growing criticism of his reporting from Baghdad

Chapter 5

On interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War; on getting the tapes of his Saddam Hussein interview back to CNN without censorship from the Iraqi Ministry of Information
On the events leading up to his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden; on his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
On the challenges facing journalists during the Trump administration; on good advice he received when starting out as a journalist; on conveying the importance of a free press to students
On career achievements and regrets; on how he would like to be remembered
Topics

Donald J. Trump

View Topic
Peter Arnett on the challenges facing journalists during the Trump administration
02:30

George H.W. Bush

View Topic
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40

Gulf War

View Topic
Peter Arnett on laying the groundwork for CNN's coverage of the Gulf War
10:46
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad which marked the start of the Gulf War
13:08
Peter Arnett on public reaction to his, Bernard Shaw's, and John Holliman's coverage of the bombing of Baghdad from the Al Rashid Hotel
03:49
Peter Arnett on using words rather than images to describe the action on the ground in Baghdad the first day of the Gulf War, and on dealing with Iraqi security
03:21
Peter Arnett on Iraqi security forces attempting to censor his reports from Baghdad
08:57
Peter Arnett on staying behind in Baghdad during the Gulf War after his colleagues from CNN left
02:02
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40
Peter Arnett on reporting on the bombing of a baby milk factory during the Gulf War, and on the growing criticism of his reporting from Baghdad
11:05
Peter Arnett on interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War
19:27
Peter Arnett on getting the tapes of his Saddam Hussein interviw back to CNN without censorship from the Iraqi Ministry of Information
03:27

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Peter Arnett on reporting from Saigon for the Associated Press during the Vietnam War
13:46
Peter Arnett on competing news outlets in Vietnam during the Vietnam War
04:30
Peter Arnett on covering the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam for the Associated Press
04:55
Peter Arnett on getting stories out of Vietnam, and on television news being late with the stories
03:45
Peter Arnett on government interference in his reporting from Vietnam
07:35
Peter Arnett on appealing to the Kennedy administration when South Vietnam was hampering their reporting from the region
09:23
Peter Arnett on covering the attempted coup in Vietnam
03:53
Peter Arnett on covering the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and military complaints about the coverage
14:03
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50
Peter Arnett on how the Vietnam War changed reporting on wars that came after
08:03
Peter Arnett on laying the groundwork for CNN's coverage of the Gulf War
10:46
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad which marked the start of the Gulf War
13:08
Peter Arnett on public reaction to his, Bernard Shaw's, and John Holliman's coverage of the bombing of Baghdad from the Al Rashid Hotel
03:49
Peter Arnett on using words rather than images to describe the action on the ground in Baghdad the first day of the Gulf War, and on dealing with Iraqi security
03:21
Peter Arnett on Iraqi security forces attempting to censor his reports from Baghdad
08:57
Peter Arnett on staying behind in Baghdad during the Gulf War after his colleagues from CNN left
02:02
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40
Peter Arnett on reporting on the bombing of a baby milk factory during the Gulf War, and on the growing criticism of his reporting from Baghdad
11:05
Peter Arnett on interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War
19:27
Peter Arnett on getting the tapes of his Saddam Hussein interview back to CNN without censorship from the Iraqi Ministry of Information
03:27
Peter Arnett on the events leading up to his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
15:02
Peter Arnett on his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
14:19

Lyndon B. Johnson

View Topic
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50

Network Creation

View Topic
Peter Arnett on being hired as a reporter for CNN in its early days
08:40
Peter Arnett on meeting Ted Turner soon after he was hired to be on CNN
02:28

Television Industry

View Topic
Peter Arnett on being hired as a reporter for CNN in its early days
08:40
Peter Arnett on meeting Ted Turner soon after he was hired to be on CNN
02:28

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40
Peter Arnett on the challenges facing journalists during the Trump administration
02:30

Vietnam War

View Topic
Peter Arnett on reporting from Saigon for the Associated Press during the Vietnam War
13:46
Peter Arnett on competing news outlets in Vietnam during the Vietnam War
04:30
Peter Arnett on covering the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam for the Associated Press
04:55
Peter Arnett on getting stories out of Vietnam, and on television news being late with the stories
03:45
Peter Arnett on government interference in his reporting from Vietnam
07:35
Peter Arnett on appealing to the Kennedy administration when South Vietnam was hampering their reporting from the region
09:23
Peter Arnett on covering the attempted coup in Vietnam
03:53
Peter Arnett on covering the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and military complaints about the coverage
14:03
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50
Peter Arnett on how the Vietnam War changed reporting on wars that came after
08:03

War

View Topic
Peter Arnett on reporting from Saigon for the Associated Press during the Vietnam War
13:46
Peter Arnett on competing news outlets in Vietnam during the Vietnam War
04:30
Peter Arnett on covering the Buddhist crisis in Vietnam for the Associated Press
04:55
Peter Arnett on getting stories out of Vietnam, and on television news being late with the stories
03:45
Peter Arnett on government interference in his reporting from Vietnam
07:35
Peter Arnett on appealing to the Kennedy administration when South Vietnam was hampering their reporting from the region
09:23
Peter Arnett on covering the attempted coup in Vietnam
03:53
Peter Arnett on covering the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and military complaints about the coverage
14:03
Peter Arnett on the reaction of the Lyndon Johnson administration to his AP reporting from Vietnam
09:50
Peter Arnett on how the Vietnam War changed reporting on wars that came after
08:03
Peter Arnett on laying the groundwork for CNN's coverage of the Gulf War
10:46
Peter Arnett on public reaction to his, Bernard Shaw's, and John Holliman's coverage of the bombing of Baghdad from the Al Rashid Hotel
03:49
Peter Arnett on using words rather than images to describe the action on the ground in Baghdad the first day of the Gulf War, and on dealing with Iraqi security
03:21
Peter Arnett on Iraqi security forces attempting to censor his reports from Baghdad
08:57
Peter Arnett on staying behind in Baghdad during the Gulf War after his colleagues from CNN left
02:02
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40
Peter Arnett on reporting on the bombing of a baby milk factory during the Gulf War, and on the growing criticism of his reporting from Baghdad
11:05
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad which marked the start of the Gulf War
13:08
Peter Arnett on interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War
19:27
Peter Arnett on getting the tapes of his Saddam Hussein interview back to CNN without censorship from the Iraqi Ministry of Information
03:27
Peter Arnett on the events leading up to his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
15:02
Peter Arnett on his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
14:19

War on Terror

View Topic
Peter Arnett on the events leading up to his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
15:02
Peter Arnett on his 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden
14:19
Professions

Correspondent

View Profession
Peter Arnett on the differences between print journalism and television journalism
07:04
Peter Arnett on the process of putting a television news story together, and on reporting for CNN from Central America
10:22
Peter Arnett on good advice he received when starting out as a journalist
02:21
Peter Arnett on conveying the importance of a free press to students
02:15

Journalists & News Producers

View Profession
Peter Arnett on the differences between print journalism and television journalism
07:04
Peter Arnett on the process of putting a television news story together, and on reporting for CNN from Central America
10:22
Peter Arnett on good advice he received when starting out as a journalist
02:21
Peter Arnett on conveying the importance of a free press to students
02:15
Genres

News and Documentary

View Genre
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad which marked the start of the Gulf War
13:08
Peter Arnett on using words rather than images to describe the action on the ground in Baghdad the first day of the Gulf War, and on dealing with Iraqi security
03:21
People

Saddam Hussein

View Person Page
Peter Arnett on interviewing Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War
19:27

Peter Jennings

View Person Page
Peter Arnett on working with Peter Jennings
01:52

Bernard Shaw

View Person Page
Peter Arnett on broadcasting, along with Bernard Shaw and John Holliman, from the Al Rashid Hotel the night of the American bombing of of Baghdad
13:08
Peter Arnett on public reaction to his, Bernard Shaw's, and John Holliman's coverage of the bombing of Baghdad from the Al Rashid Hotel
03:49

Donald J. Trump

View Person Page
Peter Arnett on the challenges facing journalists during the Trump administration
02:30

Ted Turner

View Interview Page
Peter Arnett on meeting Ted Turner soon after he was hired to be on CNN
02:28
Peter Arnett on CNN and Ted Turner resisting pressure from the George H.W. Bush administration to pull Arnett out of Baghdad during the Gulf War
02:40

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