Home / War and Conflict / War Reporter Peter Arnett Dies at 91
War Reporter Peter Arnett Dies at 91
18 Dec
Summary
- Pulitzer winner Peter Arnett covered major wars from Vietnam to Iraq.
- He died at 91, having battled prostate cancer.
- Arnett was known for his calm reporting from war zones.

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Peter Arnett, celebrated for his vivid accounts of global conflicts, has died at the age of 91. Arnett passed away in Newport Beach after a fight with prostate cancer, surrounded by loved ones. His journalistic career, which began in New Zealand, saw him reporting from the front lines of some of the 20th century's most significant wars.
Arnett first gained prominence for his extensive coverage of the Vietnam War for The Associated Press, earning him the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. He later became a household name in 1991 for his live, cellphone-reported updates from Baghdad during the first Gulf War for CNN, famously broadcasting amidst missile strikes. He also had notable interviews with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.
His career, however, was not without controversy, including a retracted report for CNN and being dismissed from NBC during the second Gulf War for criticizing U.S. military strategy. Despite these challenges, Arnett continued to report internationally, eventually teaching journalism in China before retiring. He is survived by his wife and two children.




