Reporter, Who Quit Over Alleged Fake Iraq Story, Found Dead

Bloomberg no url | 10/6/3

[NativeNewYorker]

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- James Forlong, a Sky News reporter who quit amid accusations that he faked a report during the war on Iraq, has been found dead, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing local police.

Forlong, 44, who had worked for Sky News for 10 years, was found dead at his home in Hove, southern England by local police in the early hours of Saturday morning, the BBC said.

Police said the circumstances surrounding his death were not suspicious, the BBC reported.

Forlong resigned from the satellite television news channel three months ago over allegations that he faked a report he filed from the British nuclear submarine HMS Splendid during the Iraqi conflict, the broadcaster said.

A BBC documentary in July said Forlong's report, which showed the firing of a missile from the submarine, used archive footage to stage the launch.

Sky News suspended Forlong and his producer and started an investigation, the BBC said.

[dead]

Bush did it!

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[Oldeconomybuyer]

...was found dead at his home in Hove, southern England ...

Isn't that the UK headquarters of Halliburton? < /mindless drivel >

[concerned about politics]

James Forlong, a Sky News reporter who quit amid accusations that he faked a report during the war on Iraq, has been found dead, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing local police.

BBC? He's the only one so far? If they're killing themselves for false reporting, invest in casket stocks! It's gonna be a money maker!

[nuconvert]

Not worth killing yourself over

[martin_fierro]

Forlong resigned from the satellite television news channel three months ago over allegations that he faked a report he filed from the British nuclear submarine HMS Splendid during the Iraqi conflict, the broadcaster said.
A BBC documentary in July said Forlong's report, which showed the firing of a missile from the submarine, used archive footage to stage the launch.

This might teach journalists something about the importance of doing one's own legwork.

But not ... forlong. (rimshot)

[Callahan]

According tinfoil hat, this man was groped to death by Arnold for having an affair with his mother of his love-child, who just happens to be Ambassador Joe Wilson's wife. Of course it was all planned by Karl Rove.

[Mo1]

Police said the circumstances surrounding his death were not suspicious, the BBC reported.

Is it normal for a 44 yr. old men to be found dead in the UK???

[martin_fierro]

What a shame.

Forlong could've, like, written a book about his fraud and cashed in.

[isom35]

fake reporting makes Forlong forlorn.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Not worth killing yourself over

The article doesn't say he killed himself. Could have been a heart attack or some other natural cause.

[Consort]

Arkancideshire.

[TRY ONE]

FORLONG IS FORLORN

James Forlong, a Sky News reporter who reported the war ON Iraq, has been found dead from an apparent suicide.

Similar to the Vincent Foster suicide, Forlong was found with two self-inflicted gun shots wounds to the head!

[nuconvert]

"The article doesn't say he killed himself."

No. You're right.

But he was only 44 years old.

[G.Mason]

They better get a handle on this!

If'n it spreads will have to get our news from the comic books.

Hey! ....... Come to think of it .......

[Timesink]

Schadenfreude

This is the New York Times Sky News Schadenfreude Ping List. Freepmail me to be added or dropped.

---

This is the Mainstream Media Shenanigans ping list. Please freepmail me to be added or dropped.
Please note this is a medium- to high-volume list.
Please feel free to ping me if you come across a thread you would think worthy of this ping list. I can't catch them all!

[Grampa Dave]

But, when did the evil Bush (GW) know about all of this groping and vile deeds?

[Helms]

Forlong commits suicide

Jason Deans
Monday October 6, 2003


Forlong: spent 10 years at Sky News

Former Sky News reporter James Forlong has committed suicide at his home on the East Sussex coast.

Forlong, who quit his job at Sky News in July following allegations that he faked a story during the Iraq war, was found dead at his house in Hove early on Saturday morning.

A Sussex police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances. A post mortem is due to be held tomorrow, with an inquest to be opened at a later date.

The head of Sky News, Nick Pollard, said: "This a terrible personal tragedy and a shocking blow for James's family. Everyone here sends their deepest sympathies to James's wife and family."

Forlong, who had worked for Sky News for 10 years, resigned after it emerged elements of a report he filed in March, purporting to show a cruise missile being launched from a Royal Navy submarine in the Gulf, were faked.

The allegations were first raised in July by a BBC documentary crew that was filming on the submarine, HMS Splendid, at the same time as Forlong.

Forlong handed in his notice on July 18 following an investigation into the allegations by Sky News executives. His producer, Lucy Chaytor, was cleared of any blame.

The episode was the sole blot on an otherwise distinguished career in journalism, which began at the West Sussex County Times and Brighton Evening Argus.

Forlong moved into broadcast journalism in 1984, when he joined the BBC as a radio reporter.

He moved to ITN in 1988 as a TV news correspondent and reported from Somalia, Syria, Lebanon and Bosnia.

Forlong was hired by Sky News in 1993 as senior foreign correspondent based in South Africa, where the channel had just opened its first bureau.

Over the next three-and-a-half years Forlong covered South Africa's first elections following the end of apartheid.

While based in South Africa Forlong also received two New York TV Festival awards for his coverage of the 1994 war and genocide in Rwanda.

He moved to Asia in 1997, becoming Sky News' first Beijing correspondent and winning another New York Festival medal for his coverage of the overthrow of President Suharto in Indonesia.

Forlong returned to London in 1999 and covered royal and defence stories including the deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret and the Queen's golden jubilee.

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 7239 9857

[weegee]

If'n it spreads will have to get our news from the comic books.

I wouldn't do that if'n I were you. Some recent FR threads:

Superheroes for saving Saddam?

SEC PROBING COMICS COMPANY (ILLEGAL $$$ FOR BILL & HILL?)

Local Cartoonist Has Hand in Franken's Right-Wing Roast (Used Harvard Aide to Prank Bob Jones U)

Justice League turns lefty?

Toward a Red Planet (Superman goes Communist)

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Not surprising since self-defence is illegal in the UK.

[G.Mason]

" I wouldn't do that if'n I were you. Some recent FR threads:"

It was a joke .......it was a joke!

Thanks for the urls ...... I think?

I'll check them out.

[Revolting cat!]

Tomorrow's headline today:

Forlong Not For Long!

[Diddle E. Squat]

'Did Tom Lantos call?' bump

[weegee]

I get the gag, I'm just pointing out other examples of the liberal media's propaganda game.

[weegee]

By the way, cartoonist Art Spiegleman (pulitzer prize winning creator of Maus and editor/contributor of Raw and The New Yorker) has said that now that we are in the age of digital photography (and photo manipulation) photo journalism is no longer "proof" of an event and that "cartoon" accounts of an event are just as valid (he did a 2 page piece I believe for the New Yorker addressing this).

This was several years prior to this year's LA Times photo controversy:

This photo:

Is really a composite of these 2 photos:

[G.Mason]

I remember seeing that.

Nothing is sacred, and everything suspect.

Hard too keep from being wrapped in tin foil. ;)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I guess he did kill himself.

Ok, I agree with you. Nothing to kill yourself over.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Given the circumstances, he could have faked his own death.... < /paranoia>

[archy]

Forlong could've, like, written a book about his fraud and cashed in.

He's next. I hear he's real despondent and depressed.

-archy-/-

[archy]

Forlong commits suicide

Jason Deans
Monday October 6, 2003

Forlong: spent 10 years at Sky News

Former Sky News reporter James Forlong has committed suicide at his home on the East Sussex coast.

[nuconvert]

How about, "The complex interweaving of energy, matter, and enlightened self interest run through the universe."
?

[nuconvert]

Is that your regular tag line? Or a coincidence?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Nah. They doesn't run though the universe. They are what the universe runs on.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

doesn't should be don't

[lainde]

ping

[G.Mason]

"Is that your regular tag line? Or a coincidence?"

I've been using it since they started using them.

Like? dislike?

[nuconvert]

(Lessons of life need not be fatal)

I thought your tag line was so appropriate
for this story. Wondered if it was a coincidence
or you chose it for this post.
Certainly works for this article.

[G.Mason]

'I thought your tag line was so appropriate for this story. Wondered if it was a coincidence or you chose it for this post. Certainly works for this article."

Thanks for the kind words.

It's comforting to know that there are some out here who read and understand the witten word.

I do not mean to be pompous, as many times I am not able to do so.

[nuconvert]

just a thought

[nuconvert]

"I do not mean to be pompous, as many times I am not able to do so."

Unintentional pomposity?
( a possible tag line?)

[G.Mason]

"Unintentional pomposity?
( a possible tag line?)"

I'll have you know that today is a very solemn day, as there is an election in California.

Because of this election I have sworn not to crack a smile.

Thanks to you, sir, I have not only broken my vow, I have spilled my coffee on my lap.

taking "unintentional pomposity" under advisement ;)

[nuconvert]

ppfffssssst!!

lol!

Sorry about that.

Good luck out there with the election.
The rest of us can't wait 'til it's over,
so we can back to REAL news stories.
(tired of all the toupees, make-up, sex scandals, etc)
This is for real, right? Not just happening on some Hollywood set?
Just checking.

[G.Mason]

I'm from Florida, however like many have been caught up in the hysteria of the moment.

Come to think of it, this could well be a flick from the "Twilight Zone".

[nuconvert]

"from the Twilight Zone".

Stretching into the "Outer Limits", I think.

[BA63]

"Arkancideshire."

Absolutely Hysterical! - ROTF ROTF!