Invasion of Haiti: A Media Frenzy Before the Attack

When the U.S. news network predicted a looming invasion of Haiti, it triggered a media frenzy, attracting international journalists and sparking a media invasion of the embattled island nation. The anticipation of military action drew top war correspondents, including Christiane Amanpour and Peter Arnett of CNN, who arrived in Port-au-Prince ahead of the expected invasion. However, the invasion never materialized, leaving many reporters frustrated and the story losing its appeal.

Key Takeaways:

• The media invasion of Haiti was sparked by a CNN report predicting a U.S. invasion on July 17, drawing international journalists and top war correspondents to the country.
• The U.S. networks, including CBS, ABC, and NBC, sent in reinforcements, chartering private planes to fly in extra reporters, technicians, and producers, at an estimated daily cost of $5,000.
• The media presence made the attack seem a certainty, with journalists from other countries, including Colombia and the Netherlands, joining the fray, even the targets of the invasion seemed to agree with the media's predictions.
• The twice-weekly briefings at the U.S. embassy took on a weightier air, requiring reporters to wear special credentials issued by the U.S. government, and altering the mood of the people, with many Haitians refusing to talk to television reporters.
• The media invasion caused some problems, fuelling an inflation rate already well stoked by an international trade embargo, with the price of gasoline rising to $80 a gallon, and some reporters paying over $400 for an English-speaking driver and a new vehicle.
• Despite the media frenzy, there was little hard news to report, with many journalists spending frustrating days tracking down rumors spread by their own colleagues, and the story losing its appeal as events heated up in the Middle East.
• The U.S. network giants' decision to focus on the Haiti invasion was seen as a strategic move to capitalize on the hot story of the summer, with CBS pulling star Middle East correspondent Bob Simon out of Tel Aviv to cover the story.

Statistics:

• Estimated daily cost of the U.S. networks to send in reinforcements: $5,000.
• Number of people CNN's Atlanta office dispatched to Haiti: 20.
• Price of gasoline in Haiti after the media invasion: $80 (U.S.) a gallon.
• Number of days spent by some journalists waiting for the invasion: several weeks.

Sources:

• The Globe and Mail: "Cameras but no action"
• The Boston Globe: "The Media Invasion of Haiti" (byline omitted)