McDonald refused to report 45-min claim

[Khephra]

News at Ten anchorman Sir Trevor McDonald has revealed he defied his editors by refusing to report the government's key defence of war in Iraq - the infamous 45-minute claim.

Before the outbreak of the war earlier this year, Sir Trevor stood his ground against ITV news chiefs who wanted him to focus on the perceived threat from the Iraqi regime's weapons of mass destruction.

But Sir Trevor insisted he would prefer to be sacked rather than sacrifice his principles of fair and honest coverage.

The claim that Saddam could attack British interests within 45 minutes has since been largely undermined by a senior intelligence official at the Hutton inquiry, who felt the language describing the threat was "too strong".

more.................

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/kelly/story/0,13747,1038504,00.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. There must be a typo

A fair and honest reporter or news anchor is a thing of the distant past. Nope, this guy must be stopped.

[Khephra]

2. They're rare enough

That even though most of us Americans have never heard of McDonald before, just the simple act of him standing up and saying "no" as a journalist merits breaking news status.

Sad, but true.

[Oggy]

4. He was the first mainstream TV

Black newsreader over here in the UK.

[VolcanoJen]

3. No typo.

There's still a free press in the UK.

:-)