Christopher Hitchens Joins Iraqi Journalists, Grassroots Correspondents for In-Depth View of Iraq Election

Christopher Hitchens Joins Iraqi Journalists, Grassroots Correspondents for In-Depth View of Iraq Election

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- A panel of American journalists and Middle East experts from Iraq, along with dozens of grassroots correspondents in Iraq, assembled to report their thoughts on today's historic election in Iraq. Some Iraqis communicated via satellite phone, others via Internet blogs and Web casts, but all with the same objective -- to discuss the results of the election as they see it, and how the results affect them, the Iraqis themselves.

In live reports, these correspondents fielded questions from audience members and panelists, including:

* Christopher Hitchens, author, contributor to The Nation, Vanity Fair
* Ahmad Al-Rikaby, news director for Radio Dijla, Baghdad
* Entifadh Qanbar, Special Envoy of the Iraqi National Alliance, former
spokesman for Iraqi National Congress
* Ghassan Atiyah, Iraq Foundation for Development and Democracy
* Shameem Rassan, moderator and former director of the Iraq Media Network



"Our in-studio discussions ran the gamut from elections procedure and ad campaigns to the candidates and the next steps toward Iraq's democracy, all while our correspondents were literally reporting from the front lines of Iraq's polling places - not from the green zone like other network and cable reporters," Ahmad Al-Rikaby said. "This was the real deal on Iraq. The depth and intensity of the panel discussions - along with live interviews and feedback straight from Iraqis themselves - all really contributed to a 360- degree view of how this election will shape Iraq's future."

The grassroots correspondents were real Iraqis with extraordinary backgrounds -- there was a naval officer, psychiatrist, teacher and a computer science major, among many others -- each of whom provided unique and live accounts of the election process as the election news churned along.

"The core idea behind today's event was to give the Iraqi people a voice about their country and this election -- not just the news that is filtered up through the media," said Jim Hake, CEO and founder of Spirit of America, the event's sponsor. "These grassroots correspondents live in the areas they are covering. They know the people, the go to the markets, the coffeehouses and the polling places. They voted today themselves, so they really have a first- hand view of what's happening, a view that I think people in this country will find very compelling."

Those interested in learning more about the program can go to http://www.friendsofdemocracy.org/, where reports, video and photographs are filed, or to http://www.spiritofamerica.net/ for further information about the Iraq democracy project.

Spirit of America (SoA), a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, sponsored today's symposium. SoA helps Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan assist people in need. Founded by Jim Hake, a businessman spurred to action by the events of 9/11, Spirit of America has more than 10,000 American donors, including private citizens, businesses and foundations, who have contributed more than $6 million to projects that directly benefit the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.


Source: Spirit of America

CONTACT: Natalie Wyeth for Spirit of America, +1-202-261-2871,
natalie.wyeth@mslpr.com

Web site: http://www.spiritofamerica.net/
http://www.friendsofdemocracy.org/


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