European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 22, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9new War coverage policy proposed Pentagon agrees to give greater Access to Media Washington a the Pentagon and major . News organizations Are near agreement on new guidelines for War coverage according to a Pentagon spokesman who is suggesting the Media take Steps to ensure mat journalists a not overwhelm the Battlefield. Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said the defense department is drafting a new Public affairs doctrine that will describe for combat commanders How to assist reporters accredited to cover american forces in combat. He said work is nearly Complete on a set of principles that has been negotiated with editors since the end of the persian Gulf War. Expressed concerns about restricted coverage of the conflict. The draft guidelines provide Broad Access for War correspondents covering american forces Ana Are designed in part to eliminate roadblocks that caused some news material from the Gulf War to be delayed for Many Days. A a it a not enough to get people in to see it you be got to get the Story out a Williams said last week in a military Media seminar sponsored by the Freedom forum. The news Media and the military remain at Odds on the Issue of submitting news reports from combat zones for Security review. And Williams said military officers continue to worry that Large numbers of reporters could overwhelm commanders whose principal duty is to prevail in combat. A there has to be somewhere where the the Wiliams editors had news Media come together and say a let us not overwhelm the Battlefield a a he said. George Watson Washington Bureau chief for Abc news said the Pentagon should accommodate As Many journalists As practical. And Clark Hoyt Washington Bureau chief of Knight Ridder said that of the More than 1,000 journalists who covered the Gulf War there probably were no More than 300 to 500 who sought assignments in the Battle zone. A that hardly seems to be an overwhelming number a he said. Williams said the right number will depend on the circumstances. Williams was asked by defense Secretary Dick Cheney to discuss ways to improve combat coverage following a meeting Between Cheney and top executives of Media organizations. The discussions resulted in draft guidelines that begin with a Tenet stipulating that a open and Independent reporting will be the principal Means of coverage of . Military  the defense department would Issue credentials to journalists assigned to a pref combat. News organizations have agreed to abide by a set of ground rules designed to preserve the Security of military operations. The guidelines would limit the use of pooled coverage organized by military press officers the principal Means of Gulf War coverage. The guidelines would bar escort officers from interfering in the reporting process which occurred on some occasions during the Gulf War. Louis d. Boccardi president of the associated press who organized the group that met with Cheney last september said of the tentative guidelines a the Media executives believe that the draft principles provide a reasonable War coverage guidelines Here is a list of nine guidelines drafted by major  news organizations and the Pentagon As principles to to followed in the coverage of any War involving  troops 1. Open and Independent reporting will be the principal Means of coverage of . Military operations. 2. Pools composed of reporters who report to the entire press corps Are not to serve As the Standard Means of covering . Military operations. But pools May sometimes provide the Only feasible Means of Early Access. Pools should be As Large As possible and disbanded at the earliest Opportunity within 24 to 36 hours when possible. The arrival of Early Access pools will not cancel the principle of Independent coverage Tor journalists already in the area. 3. Even under conditions of open coverage pools May be appropriate for specific events such As those at extremely Remote locations or where space is limited 4. Journalists in a combat zone will be credentialed by the  military and will be required to abide by a Clear set of military Security ground rules that protect . Forces and their operations. Violation of the ground rules can result in the suspension of the credentials and expulsion from the combat zone news organizations will make their Best efforts to assign experienced journalists to combat operations and to make them familiar with . Military operations. 5. Journalists will be provided Access to Allma or military units. Special operations restrictions May limit Access in some cases 6. Military Public affairs officers should act As liaisons but should not interfere with the reporting process 7. Under conditions of open coverage Field commanders will permit journalists to ride on military vehicles and aircraft whenever feasible the military will be responsible Tor the transportation of pools. 8. Consistent with its capabilities the military will Supply pass Public affairs officers with facilities to enable timely. Secure compatible transmission of Pool material and will make those facilities available whenever possible for filing Independent coverage. In Casos when government facilities Are unavailable journalists will As always file by any other Means available. The military will not ban communications systems operated by nows organizations but electromagnetic operational Security m Battlefield situations May require limited restrictions on the Uso of such systems 9. These principles will apply As Well to the operations of Tho standing department of defense National Media Pool system. Basis for coverage of the next conflict. They provide a significant move toward open coverage while recognizing the need for military  during the Gulf War the Pentagon forced news organizations to submit material for Security review. News organizations contended during the negotiations that journalists would heed Security guidelines and that prior Security review of their copy photographs and videos was a unwarranted Ana  Williams said a military people done to want to say there is never going to be a need for Security  a if in some future operation the military decided it needed Security review. Reporters would have to agree to that or stay out of the Battlefield a Williams said. Watson said Abc news might Challenge such a decision. A at some Point we would have a Choice of covering the War under these ground rules or not a he , interviewer of Hitler Dies at 89 Orlando Fla. Apr Frederick Cable Oechsner who interviewed Adolf Hitler and advised Dwight d. Eisenhower during 35 years As a journalist Diplomat and author has died. He was 89. Oechsner who died sunday retired to Florida after decades of working in Europe crossing paths with some of the Century a most influential figures. Oechsner was trained As a lawyer but pursued journalism instead beginning As a reporter in his native new Orleans be headed overseas after working As a reporter for the Washington evening Star. From 1929 to 1942, he reported from Germany chronicling the Rise of nazism. He headed United press Berlin Bureau for 10 years overseeing reporters such As Richard Helms later a Cia director and Howard k. Smith later a network news Anchor. A the was very generous with assignments a Smith said sunday of Oechsner a willingness to share the Best stones. After the United states entered world War ii Oechsner and other journalists were taken hostage. They were released in a prisoner Exchange after being held for six months in a hotel. Oechsner and four other United press staffers wrote the Best seller this is the enemy a look at the third Reich. In 1942, Oechsner joined the office of strategic services a precursor to the Cia. He was appointed director of psychological warfare under Eisenhower. He later worked at the state department at one Point serving As Deputy chief of Mission in Poland. Still popular Winnie Mandela blames de Klerk for violence Johannesburg South Africa a Winnie Mandela whose political career was in shambles a week ago has launched a comeback Campaign with a series of fiery speeches in recent Days. The controversial Mandela was cheered by thousands of african National Congress supporters monday when she blamed president . De Klerks White led government for the violence in Black townships. De Klerk a is the managing director of the violence a Mandela said outside the Southeastern City of Pietermaritzburg site of chronic Black factional fighting. A How Long will he be talking peace in the Day and providing guns for the warlords in the night a she said to roars of approval. Mandela a tumultuous career appeared Over last week when she separated from her husband Anc president Nelson Mandela and resigned her Post As the Ancus social welfare director. The announcements came after several of Winnie Mandela a former associates accused her of criminal acts. Mandela convicted last year on kidnapping and assault charges involving four Young Blacks maintains her innocence. She has repeatedly rebounded from adversity and has responded to her latest setbacks by seeking grass roots support in the Black Community. When weekend fighting broke out in two townships near Johannesburg Mandela arrived to consult with residents. In both instances she blamed Security forces for the trouble and urged people to defend themselves. The Anc leadership has sought to distance itself from Mandela and says it would prefer that she stay out of the spotlight. But Mandela 57, still holds her elected Post on the Ancus National executive committee the policy making body. More important she has retained the support of Young militants by preaching confrontation with the White authorities. A the apartheid state tried to break mrs. Winnie Mandela a revolutionary spirit and failed. The moderate Anc leadership is trying to break her political Power and it May have no better Success a said the sunday times of Johannesburg. A she will not easily be removed from Center  in contrast to his wife Nelson Mandela delivers Low key speeches about the need for a negotiated political settlement and he is working closely with the government on a new Constitution that will end White domination. On easter sunday he appeared with de Klerk and both men spoke of political reconciliation at a religious service attended by some 500,000 Blacks. A we Appeal to you All to work and Pray for peace a Nelson Mandela said. Meanwhile Winnie Mandela accused the government of attempting to a a sabotage the constitutional talks by promoting violence a charge the government denies. A it is quite Clear de Klerks National party is not prepared to relinquish Power a she told the Independent South african press association. Thousands of Blacks have been killed in recent years and most of fighting has been Between supporters of the Anc and the Zulu based inkatha Freedom party. The daily police unrest report released monday morning listed nine deaths during the previous 24 hours. All the attacks were in Black areas around Johannesburg and in the Eastern province of Natal the traditional battlegrounds in recent years