US networks working together. BUT . . .

That agreement among news operations to share footage and information has not dampened their competitive spirit

Various news outlets were indeed sharing video yesterday, but much of it was stamped not only with the logo of the network from which it had come, but also the word 'exclusive.'

And yesterday morning Flag War broke out among the cable news networks. CNN declared itself the victor, having put its animated American flag near the bottom of the screen at midnight Wednesday; MSNBC and Fox News Channel followed suit yesterday morning.

'I'm thrilled we were the first network to put up the American flag,' said Garth Ancier, vice president of programming at Turner Broadcasting Systems, which includes CNN.

'We all started hearing about friends and neighbors who were buying flags. Walter Isaacson said he didn't want anyone getting an American flag on before us; he ordered the animated American flag [Wednesday] night.'

'Thrilled'??? Blimey - someone needs to get some perspective on things!

By the way, if anyone's wondered why I've not been posting much, it's because I was called up by the Observer on Wednesday morning, and I had to rush to London to help cover the attacks (they're very short-staffed so have resorted to phoning up student journos!). I'm still there now.