LOS ANGELES (AP) — Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who spent his life amidst the dangers of war zones, has died at age 91 in Newport Beach. Surrounded by family and friends, Arnett succumbed to prostate cancer after entering hospice care.
Arnett’s journalism career began in Vietnam in 1962, and he quickly gained accolades for his reporting, winning the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for his courageous coverage during the Vietnam War.
While most journalists fled Baghdad leading up to the 1991 Gulf War, Arnett remained and provided live updates from his hotel room as missiles struck nearby. His calm demeanor and vivid storytelling brought the chaos of war into homes worldwide.
“There was an explosion right near me, you may have heard,” he noted during one harrowing broadcast, as air-raid sirens blared in the background.
Bravery in the Field
Arnett’s reporting was characterized by an unwavering presence in the face of danger. In the heat of battle, he witnessed the death of soldiers and reported on fierce battles, all while sharing the stories of those affected by war.
In addition to his Vietnam reporting, Arnett's career took him to the heart of many significant conflicts, including exclusive interviews with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden during the Gulf War.
After leaving the AP in 1981, he joined CNN, where he became a prominent figure in cable news. However, controversy followed him, and despite being fired for comments deemed anti-American, he quickly found new opportunities to report on global events.
Born on November 13, 1934, in Riverton, New Zealand, Arnett’s journey into journalism began at a local newspaper. His adventurous spirit later led him to Thailand and beyond, making lasting connections that shaped his career covering wars across the globe.
Arnett is remembered not just as a reporter, but as a courageous storyteller who captured the realities of war with unwavering resolve. He is survived by his wife, Nina Nguyen, and their children, Elsa and Andrew.
