American media leaving Iraq

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The presence of the U.S. media in Iraq is in a steady decline as the story moves from violence to the complexities of the political situation, analysts say.

A report from the Brookings Institution notes a precipitous decline in the coverage of Iraq, with CBS and NBC pulling its correspondents from the country and the number of embedded journalists dropping to 39 from its September 2007 high of 219.

The report notes the American media giants have suggested their audiences have lost interest in the situation as the daily story moves from sectarian violence and military casualties to the subtle nuances of political development.

Another factor contributing to the decline is that the cost of publishing daily coverage of the government far exceeds the cost of reporting on car bombings or other violence as political stories require a stronger knowledge base and a long-term commitment to developing stories.

The report warns, however, that if the American public loses interest in Iraq, the policies of the next administration may shift to issues of broader public attention, a move that would have dire consequences for the region.