In the week ending with the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, "The Most Trusted Name in News" was not to be trusted to provide much news on Iraq.
POSTED MARCH 22, 2005 --
Of the 371 news segment headlines that ran on CNN's transcript pages that week, 19, or roughly five percent, were about Iraq, including two headlines on March 19, the actual anniversary of the invasion. That compares to 20 headlines referencing Iraq on March 19th of last year, a day in which CNN also ran numerous interviews about the war with U.S. officials. While the transcript-page headlines aren't a precise indicator of the amount of coverage afforded any particular story, they do reveal that at the second anniversary, CNN was focused more on crime stories and other domestic U.S. dramas than on Iraq.
The most likely forum for CNN to mark the two-year anniversary in any depth would have been "NewsNight," its most serious news show and a usually reliable outlet for reporting on the Iraq war. But it was pre-empted on Wednesday and Thursday for programs tangentially related to the Atlanta court house killings -- a "People in the News" installment on "The Life of Ashley Smith," and a program on "the phenomenon" of "The Purpose-Driven Life," a book that Smith read a passage from to her captor, Brian Nichols. On Friday, March 18, "NewsNight" returned, leading off by interviewing the owner of one of five vehicles said to have been hijacked a week earlier by Nichols: "until now, she hasn't spoken on camera." The program did include one segment on Iraq, a profile of a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and clinical psychologist who had been deployed near Fallujah. But the piece was a rerun, and viewers weren't told that it had initially aired last December.
These are the names and stories that dominated CNN's coverage during the week of March 13 to March 19, 2005. They're followed by a listing of Iraq-related headlines for the same dates in both 2004 and 2005:
The Most Trusted Name(s) In News
Ashley Smith
Ashley Smith Speaks Out
Atlanta Woman Describes Events with Murder Suspect
26-Year-Old Widow Held Hostage in Georgia Home;
Taken Hostage at Gunpoint
Atlanta Hostage Recounts Night with Gunmen
Hostage Uses Book to Sway Captor
Ashley Smith's Account of Ordeal With Brian Nichols
Held Captive
Hostage's Story
Hostage Negotiator Outlines what Ashley Smith Did Right
Teacher Provides Insights on Ashley Smith
Book About Finding Purpose Through God May Have Helped Ashley Smith
Calm Atlanta Shooting Suspect
Negotiating Freedom
A Look at Ashley Smith's Past
The Phenomenon of 'The Purpose-Driven Life'
Ashley Smith Becomes Overnight Celebrity
The Life of Ashley Smith, Woman Who Turned in Atlanta Courthouse Murder Suspect
A profile of Ashley Smith's life
Scott Peterson
Scott Peterson Facing Death Sentence in Murder of His Wife
Scott Peterson Sentenced To Death
Legal Panel Discusses Scott Peterson Death Sentence
Scott Peterson's Fate
Judge Formally Sentences Scott Peterson to Death
Judge Upholds Death Sentence for Scott Peterson
California Judge Upholds Death Penalty for Scott Peterson
Peterson Jurors Discuss Trial, Sentencing
Scott Peterson Sentenced to Death
Scott Peterson Gets Death
Bidding Good-Bye to a Colorful Juror
More Angry Words at Scott Peterson Sentencing Wednesday
Peterson Transferred to San Quentin
Life on Death Row Begins for Scott Peterson
Scott Peterson Enters San Quentin
Inside San Quentin State Prison
Baseball & Steroids
Baseball Fair Game For Congress?
Jose Canseco to Testify in Hearings on Steroids in Baseball
Congress Tackles Steroids Issue in Baseball
Steroids Investigation
Congress Hears Testimony On Steroids In Baseball
Baseball, Steroids
Baseball & Steroids
Previewing Congressional Hearings on Steroid Use in Major League Baseball
Congress Holds Hearing on Steroids in Baseball
Congressional Hearings Begin on Steroid Use in MLB
Professional Baseball Players Testify about Steroids
Parents Testify to Congress on Steroid Dangers
Congress Gathers All-Star Lineup for Baseball Steroids Hearings
Call For Justice; Major League Baseball Heads to Congress
A look at Steriods and Baseball
Steroids and Baseball
Baseball's Boss Under Oath
Baseball Steroids Scandal Takes Center Stage on Capitol Hill
Professional Baseball Takes a Beating in Congress
Baseball, Steroids
Steroids in High School
Effects of Steroids on Young People
The Day After the Baseball Steroids Hearings
Congress Holds Hearings on Steroid use in Major League Baseball
Fans Wary Over McGwire's Testimony
Jessica Lunsford
Person of Interest Sought in Lunsford Case
New Developments in Missing Florida Girl Case
Police to Identify 'Person of Interest' in Missing Florida Girl Case
New Developments in Case of Missing 9- year-old Girl in Florida
Search Heats Up for a Convicted Sex Offender
'Person of Interest' ID'd
Person Of Interest In Custody In Jessica Lunsford Kidnapping
Discussion of Jessica Lunsford, Missing since February 24th
Latest Developments in Disappearance of Jessica Lunsford
'Person of Interest' in Case of Missing Florida Girl Now in Custody
'Person of Interest' in Case of Missing Florida Girl in Custody
Man in Custody in Missing Girl Case
Person of Interest in Lunsford Case Now in Police Custody
The Search for Jessica
Man Questioned in Missing Florida Girl
Police Searching Couey's Home for Evidence in Missing Girl Case
Person of Interest Questioned in Lunsford Investigation
Discussion of suspect's confession he abducted and murdered missing
9-year-old Florida girl
Missing Florida Girl
Suspect in Missing Girl Case to Be Extradited to Florida
Search for Jessica
Press Conference With Sheriff Jeff Dawsy
Florida Girl Murdered?
Jessica Lunsford's Body Found
Interview with Susan Lunsford
Mark Lunsford Speaks to Press After Suspect Confesses to Murder
Latest Developments in the Jessica Lunsford Case as Search for Body Continues
Citrus County Sheriff Answers Press Questions on Jessica Lunsford Case
Michael Jackson
Jackson's Accuser Returns to Stand Today
Michael Jackson Trial
Twist in Jackson Trial
Legal Analysis of Michael Jackson case and Church Shootings
Bombshell in Michael Jackson Trial
Jackson Accuser Tested
More Twists in Jackson Trial
Jackson Accuser Will be Grilled Again Today by Jackson's Attorney
Michael Jackson's Young Accuser Takes the Stand
Case Against Michael Jackson Weakened
Defense Scores in Jackson Trial
Legal Analysis of Michael Jackson Case
Accuser Credible?
Michael Jackson Trial
Ex-Housekeeper Speaks
Robert Blake
Press Conference With Robert Blake
Robert Blake Acquittal
Robert Blake Found Not Guilty of Killing Wife
Blake Not Guilty
Robert Blake a Free Man This Morning
Robert Blake Acquitted in Shooting Death of His Wife
Behind the Blake Verdict
Behind the Robert Blake Verdict
Discussion of Robert Blake not guilty verdict with family of murdered
woman and Blake's attorney
Inside the Robert Blake Case
Terri Schiavo
Congress Considers 11th House Legislation to Save Brain Damaged Woman
Surprise Move in Washington May Keep Terri Schiavo Alive in Florida
Schiavo Deadline
Terri Schiavo's Fate Up in the Air
Interview with Parents of Terri Schiavo, Robert and Mary Schindler
Case of Life and Death
Guess panel Discusses Terri Schiavo
Extraordinary Legal Maneuver in Case of Brain-Damaged Florida Woman
Life or Death?
Schiavo Subpoena
Press Conference of Michael Schiavo's Attorney, George Felos
Schiavo Deadline
Interview With Terri Schiavo's Brother
Congress Intervenes Further in the Schiavo Case
Brain-Damaged Woman's Feeding Tube Disconnected
Life and Death Issues in the Case of Terry Schiavo
Terri Schiavo at Center of Legal Battles
House Issues Subpoenas to Keep Brain-Damaged Woman Alive
Judge Orders Removal of Schiavo Feeding Tube
Schiavo Case
Judge Rules Against Parents of Terri Schiavo
Judge Orders Feeding Tube Removed from Brain-Damaged Woman
Congress Calls on Terri Schiavo to Testify
Congressional Republicans Attempt To Pass Legislation To Save Terri Schiavo
Congress Continue Fight For Terri Schiavo
House To Convene Tomorrow In Special Session
Battle over Terri Schiavo Goes to Congress
Terri Schiavo
Out Of Iraq
Having cast its lot with murder stories and other domestic legal intrigue, CNN didn't leave much time for reporting on Iraq. Here are the 2004 and 2005 segment and program headlines for the March 19th anniversary of the invasion, and the six days leading up to it. Part of the disparity in the number of headlines -- 83 in 2004 vs. 19 in 2005 -- can be attributed to a Baghdad hotel bombing in advance of the first anniversary, but there were also significantly more segments in 2004 pegged to the anniversary, as well as to U.S. troops, even though troop levels have increased from 120,000 to 150,000 over the last year, and the force has now been there twice as long.
Today Marks Second Anniversary Of Iraq War
A Look Back at the War in Iraq on the Two-Year Anniversary of Invasion
Bush Defends Iraq War on One-Year Anniversary
President Marks First Anniversary of Beginning of War in Iraq
President Marks First Anniversary of Beginning of War in Iraq
More Bombings in Baghdad
Was Iraq Right War at Right Time?
President Bush Speaks on Anniversary of Iraq War
Powell Makes Surprise Iraq Visit
Iraqi Public Opinion Split on U.S. Occupation
Did Bush Speech on Iraq Help Re-election Chances?
Military Stretched Thin a Year After War Began
U.S. Military Says Three Marines, Two Soldiers Killed in Iraq Wednesday
Iraq One Year Later
Inside the Struggle to Restore Order in Iraq
Bush Speech on Iraq Strives to Unite Allies
Injured Soldiers Have Long Road to Recovery
President Bush Marks One Year in Iraq
President Bush Defends War in Iraq
A Year in Iraq; Multiple Explosions Heard in Baghdad
Interview With Paul Bremer
Bush Defends Invasion of Iraq
Two Years At War
Look Back on Second Anniversary of Start of War in Iraq
War in Iraq Reaches Two-Year Anniversary
Iraq: Two Years Later
Aftermath of Massive Iraq Hotel Bombing
Iraq Bombings; Effects of Baghdad Bombing Felt in Race for White House
Is There a New Campaign of Terror in Iraq?
Terror in Iraq
Bomb Destroys Baghdad Hotel, Killing More Than a Dozen
Returning Control to Iraq
Latest Bombing in Baghdad
Islamists Blamed for Baghdad Bombing
Horrors of War Take Toll on Troops' Mental Health
FBI on Scene of Car Bomb Attack That Destroyed Baghdad Hotel
Another Explosion Outside of Hotel in Iraq
Violence In Iraq Escalates Approaching Anniversary
Iraqi Police Force
Bombings Shake Iraq Ahead of Anniversary
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Four American Missionaries Killed in Iraq
Baghdad Bombing
War & the Campaign
Huge Explosion in Baghdad
Explosion Targets Large Baghdad Hotel
Deaths, Injuries in Baghdad Explosion Climb
27 Dead, More Than 40 Injured in Baghdad Bombing
Car Bomb Explodes Outside Baghdad Hotel
Baghdad Hotel Blast
Car Bomb Explodes Outside Baghdad Hotel
No Survivors Believed to be Left at Bombing Site
Iraq One Year Later
Iraq a Year Later
A Year in Iraq
Car Bomb Blasts Baghdad Hotel, Kills More Than 27
Deadly Blast Levels Hotel in Baghdad
Baghdad Bombing Kills Dozens
Bomb Attack Devastates Baghdad Hotel
A Historic Day for People of Iraq
Violence in Iraq
In Baghdad, Members of National Parliament Hear Explosions Near Meeting Hall
Defining Women's Roles in the New Iraq
Iraqi National Assembly Sworn In
National Assembly Convenes in Baghdad
A Year in Iraq
Cracked Coalition?
New Administration in Spain, Perhaps Removal of Spanish Troops
National Guardsman Goes AWOL to Protest War
American Civilian Dies from Wounds from Drive-By Shooting Yesterday in Mosul
Civilians Deaths on Rise in Iraq
National Guardsman Seeks to Become Conscientious Objector
Duty Vs. Conscience
Civilians Targeted in Iraq
Halliburton Charges
Italy may Withdraw Some Troops from Iraq in September
What Pentagon Did Not Know About Iraq Has Been Costly
Antiwar Protests
Losing an Ally?
One-Year Anniversary of War in Iraq This Week
New Spanish Prime Minister Vows to Withdraw from Iraq
Protests Mark One-Year Anniversary in Iraq
One Year Later, What's Changed in Iraq?
What Have We Learned from Iraq?
Three American Civilians Killed in Iraq
Changes and Challenges in Baghdad
Two Years At War
Look Back on Second Anniversary of Start of War in Iraq
Iraq: Two Years Later
Future of Iraq
Anti-War Protesters Meet Soldier's Bodies Returning Home For Burial
Bush Administration Insists Iraq War Was Justified
War Stories From the Front Lines
Six U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq by Roadside Bombs
Iraq War: A Year Later
Family Members Share Memories of Civilians Killed in Iraq
Deadly Weekend for U.S. Troops in Iraq
A Mother Speaks Out Against Iraqi Conflict
Two American Civilians Killed in Iraq
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