Today, part two of our discussion on “Bridge to Baghdad.”

Yesterday we talked about how 12-time Emmy award-winning TV journalist Jon Alpert wanted to create dialogue and bring the voices of ordinary Iraqis to ordinary Americans. He traveled to Baghdad last month to set up a video conference with Iraqi students in Baghdad and American students in New York.

The American Museum of Radio and Television was sponsoring the event. But as Jon Alpert drove from Amman, Jordan on the road to Baghdad, they called him, and backed out.

Jon produced the video dialogue anyway. When he returned to the US, not one network would air his piece.

Well today, students in Iraq will talk live telephone with students here in our firehouse studio in New York.

“Bridge to Baghdad,” an excerpt.

• Jon Alpert, veteran TV reporter and journalist, 12-time Emmy award winner, and founder of Downtown Community Television in New York City.
• Walid Gafa, student in Baghdad.
• Hibba Al-Soudani, student in Baghdad.
• Katrina Baker, student in New York.
• Alcy Montas, student in New York.

Related link:

• Downtown Community Television