Courage Under Fire

Earlier this week, Christiane Amanpour received the International Documentary Association (IDA) Courage Under Fire Award. Below are excerpts from an IDA press release:

Christiane Amanpour will receive the International Documentary Association Courage Under Fire Award. The award is reserved for individuals who put themselves in harm’s way in order to bring important stories to the public. Amanpour will be feted during the 2007 IDA Distinguished Achievement Awards Gala Benefit at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles on December 7.

“Our members want to express their admiration for Christiane Amanpour who has consistently brought the world honest and thorough first-hand reports from dangerous places where history was happening,” says IDA President Diane Estelle Vicari. “We appreciate her integrity, her commitment to showing and telling the public the truth, and the exceptional courage that she has shown in the face of personal danger.”

This is only the fourth time that IDA has presented a Courage Under Fire Award in the 25 year history of the organization. The previous three awards went to filmmakers for specific documentaries that put them in harm’s way. It is only the second time that IDA has presented an award to a television journalist. Former CBS-TV news anchor and correspondent Walter Cronkite received an IDA Career Achievement Award in 1992.

“IDA is committed to encouraging filmmakers and journalists to inform the public about the critical issues of our times,” says IDA Executive Director Sandra Ruch. “Christiane Amanpour has brought light to some of the darkest places in the world. We hope that this tribute will inspire other journalists and filmmakers to follow her example.”

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This week there will be several CNN favorites showing up on other networks:

	Wednesday, 12/12	Larry King will be on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. Originally broadcast 3/1/2007.
	Friday, 12/14	Anderson Cooper will guest co-host Live with Regis and Kelly
	Friday, 12/14	Stephanie Elam will appear on Tavis Smiley on PBS

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Friday night, another new Special Investigations Unit debuted: Iran: Fact & Fiction. This program, anchored by Campbell Brown, examined the relationship between the US and Iran over the last decade.

The program included several reports from Frank Sesno. Along with analysis from Trita Parsi, Joe Klein, David Gergen, and Aneesh Ramen.

The relationship between the two countries has been complicated. Below are a few of the highlights that the program touched on:

• 1997 – US attempts diplomacy with the new moderate president. These attempts fail as Iran's Supreme Leader has no interest in improving relations.
• Fall of 2001 - Iran and the US work together in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban. This included sharing of information and safe passage of supplies. Iran helped to establish the government and was prepared to assist Afghanistan to train the national army.
• January 2002- Pres. Bush referred to Iran were part of the Axis of Evil.
• A 2003 Iran sent a non-existent memo through the Swiss to the US that outlined their aims and the US. The memo was never acted upon by the US. A diplomatic opportunity missed?
• December, 2007 - National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report released that Iran stopped their nuclear weapons program in 2003.

The program has some excellent reporting by Frank Sesno and doesn't attempt to place blame of the current tension between Iran and the US on any one particular party.

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Mystery Journalist

This week's Mystery Journalist was Michael Ware.

Thanks to Cyn for the great picture this week!