David Bloom dies [Archive]

DemoCoder

07-Apr-2003, 00:18

Tribute at 8pm EST on MSNBC.

I really liked this guy. He jury-rigged the military vehicle he was on in Iraq with high bandwidth satellite equipment, so his footage was always high resolution 30fps, not crappy videophone. More of a hands on guy, a hacker, than a pretty-boy correspondent. He had an affable, no-nonsense, gung-ho personality in his reporting. 1000x time better than Geraldo.

He died of a heart problem at 39. I guess 2 weeks of hardly any sleep, the constant stress/fear around you, and possibly either an infection or congenital defect could be the cause.

Tahir2

07-Apr-2003, 00:26

Condolences to David Bloom's family.

BBC reporter John Simpson almost got killed today and was on air describing the event a few hours afterwards. He was showing true fear and shock after a few hours of it happening. He remained very professional throughout the broadcast, but death was certainly on his mind and his own life and its fragility. That kind of brought the message home to me of what it is these reporters are going through and how they are putting their lives at risk for us basically.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2921807.stm

John Simpson even managed to pay a fitting tribute to Kamaran Abdurazaq Muhamed, the translator with him at the time who lost his life in this incident.

Gollum

07-Apr-2003, 01:59

I saw footage of that friendly fire incident earlier Tahir, it looked like a scenario straight from hell. Makes you truly respect what danger some of those reporters put themselves into (edit: of course the same applies to the soldiers!), but also reminds you that this is happeneing day and night all over the country just without the presence of a camera...

Dave Baumann

07-Apr-2003, 02:21

I'm beginning to wonder if the news organisations won't rethink reporters so close to the action with the numbers been lost and injured in this war and as a direct result of military action.

If not from a personal safety front, then (inevitably) from an insurance perspective ( :roll: ).

K.I.L.E.R

07-Apr-2003, 02:52

Then how will they be able to brag and make money? Remember that hype is part of the ratings.

Simon F

07-Apr-2003, 09:11

epicstruggle

07-Apr-2003, 09:41

David Bloom, was one of the good reasons to watch MSNBC/NBC. He brought a very clear picture of what was happening around him. I wish more reporters would follow his example of journalistic integrety. Same with David Kelly who had some amazing columns. Its amazing to see writers paint with words. David was incredible when he got riled up by some issue. I would recommend reading some of his columns if your not familiar with his writing.

They will be sorely missed by their audience, their friends, and their family.

later,

MuFu

07-Apr-2003, 18:43

What surprised me was a broadcast from one of the reporters who is stationed within Bahgdad. Apparently there are no US reporters there at all, having pulled out 2 days before the bombing commenced. He showed the crates of (rather expensive) equipment of one US agency which is sitting unused on the roof of the hotel.

Was that a UK report? I think I saw it as well - was also very suprised.

The incident John Simpson was involved in sounds horrendous. :shock:

MuFu.

nutball

07-Apr-2003, 20:25

The incident John Simpson was involved in sounds horrendous. :shock:

Certainly didn't sound very good to me.

He was very John Simpson about it though. "Yes, yes, yes, it's only a shrapnel wound" (to the US Special Forces Medic chappie). :shock:

Sxotty

07-Apr-2003, 20:53

I thought bloom died of natural type causes? pulmonary embolism right?
So I mean a lot of the reporters seem to be dying from non-combat related events like say half? I heard about 600 reporters are imbedded, so it is going fairly well. I mean they are more safe than they would be on their own I believe.
It seems obvious that the stress of the situation is leading to deaths though as well. One reporter found dead in his room for natural looking causes, one dead in a humvee crash, Bloom of pulmonary embolism. And others have been shot/blown up and what not, but I believe that the number of non-embedded casulties directly from violent action is comprable to the embedded reporters. So maybe it will just be a shift to putting reporters with troops, but of course that is a biased view b/c the losing side could not provide them with the level of protection we have.

MuFu

07-Apr-2003, 22:21

Simon F

08-Apr-2003, 08:32

He was very John Simpson about it though.

LOL! Yes I thought so too. They reckon that the piece of shrapnel that hit him in the back was embedded so far into the kevlar of his flak jacket that had he not been wearing one it would have gone straight through him. :?

MuFu.
I was bemused when he was speaking on the phone reporting the incident back to the UK and a US officer/soldier rushed up to him. John Simpson was worried he was going to stop him broadcasting, but he was a medic concerned that John was bleeding. John replied "oh it's just a bit of shrapnel" and kept on reporting, although he was having a bit of difficulty hearing the questions because he was "bleeding from the ear".

DemoCoder

08-Apr-2003, 08:40

I admire Bob Arnot. He is a very talented guy. Arab Studies degree, speaks fluent Arabic, also Medical Doctor, surgeon, also Journalist, and has an impressive career in various charity organizations too.

But he is getting on my nerves with his interviews during fire fights, something I didn't see Bloom do. I mean, guys are running between frontlines, shouting orders, and he runs up to them and tries to conduct an interview! (he's done it several times)

Moreover, we get the idiot questions like "Today, more marines died. That must take a toll on you guys here. How do you FEEL when you learn about news like that?"

Imagine being ask that question after you just took cover from a sniper or incoming artillery!

I mean, wait until down periods or lulls in activity before you conduct interviews on the emotional feelings of the marines!