TV Guide’s kind words for Arnett

The new edition of TV Guide magazine will include an item praising now-fired MSNBC correspondent Peter Arnett for his work covering the war in Iraq, though the magazine said Friday the item was written and printed before Arnett’s dismissal.

In the “Cheers & Jeers” page of the issue, on newsstands Monday, an item in part gives “cheers to the fine journalism on (or near) the front lines. Of special note: news vet Peter Arnett on MSNBC.” Two other reports from TV networks were also praised in the item.

On March 31, MSNBC fired Arnett, one of the last reporters left in Baghdad, after he gave an interview to state-owned Iraqi TV in which he said the U.S. military’s battle plan had failed.

A TV Guide spokesman said that the magazine did not intend to praise New Zealand-born Arnett for his comments and said the problem was one of deadlines, with the pages in question printed days ahead of the magazine’s appearance on stands. The April 14 issue of the magazine, already in production, will include a self-reflecting “jeer,” the spokesman said.