Jackson Seeks Baghdad Press Pass

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said today that he is trying to arrange a trip to Iraq as a television journalist to interview Iraqi officials and American hostages for his new syndicated talk show.

Jackson told reporters that the government of Iraq had indicated that he could interview officials in Baghdad and talk to Americans held hostages in that country.

“The Jesse Jackson Show,” scheduled to begin next month, is syndicated by Time Warner Inc., which Jackson said would help underwrite the trip.

Jackson, who previously played a role as a diplomat in seeking to free an American pilot held in Syria, said the purpose of the trip to Iraq would be purely journalistic.

“It would not be appropriate to go there as a diplomat,” he said.