Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Peter Arnett, one of the most influential war correspondents of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 91 in Newport Beach, California, following a battle with prostate cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends, according to his son, Andrew Arnett. Born on November 13, 1934, in Riverton, New Zealand, Arnett’s career spanned more than four decades.
A Career Defined by Frontline Reporting
- Arnett joined The Associated Press (AP) in the early 1960s and reported from Vietnam from 1962 until the fall of Saigon in 1975.
- His fearless coverage of the war earned him the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, making him one of the most respected journalists of his generation.
- Often embedded with troops, Arnett survived close encounters with death, including sniper fire and artillery attacks.
- His reporting captured not only battlefield events but also the human cost of war, setting new standards for conflict journalism.
Global Recognition During the Gulf War
- Though well known within journalistic circles earlier, Arnett became a household name during the 1991 Gulf War, when he delivered live television reports for CNN from Baghdad as US-led forces bombarded the city.
- At a time when most Western reporters had evacuated, his calm, on-the-ground broadcasts provided the world with rare, real-time insights into the conflict.
Controversies and Later Career
Arnett’s career was also marked by controversy,
- He resigned from CNN in 1999 after the network retracted a report he narrated.
- In 2003 during the Iraq War he was fired by NBC and National Geographic for criticizing US war strategy in an interview with Iraqi state television.
- Despite criticism he continued reporting internationally and later taught journalism at Shantou University in China.
- He chronicled his experiences in his memoir Live From the Battlefield: From Vietnam to Baghdad (1995).
Early Life and Path to Journalism
- Arnett’s journalism journey began at New Zealand’s Southland Times shortly after high school.
- He later worked in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Laos, before joining the AP connections that would lead to a lifetime covering war.
- Reflecting on his first newsroom job, Arnett once said he felt he had “found my place,” a sentiment that defined his lifelong commitment to journalism.
Key Takeaways
- Peter Arnett died at 91 in California after battling prostate cancer
- Pulitzer Prize winner (1966) for Vietnam War reporting
- Became globally famous for live CNN broadcasts from Baghdad in 1991
- Reported from major conflicts spanning Vietnam, Gulf War, and Iraq War
- Remembered for fearless, eyewitness journalism and powerful storytelling
Question
Q. Peter Arnett’s Pulitzer Prize was awarded for coverage of which conflict?
(A) Korean War
(B) Iraq War
(C) Vietnam War
(D) Afghanistan War