Arthur Kent
Encyclopedia
Arthur Kent is a Canadian
television journalist. He rose to international prominence during the 1991 Persian Gulf War during which he acquired the nickname
"The Scud
Stud". He is the brother of journalist Peter Kent
.
Kent graduated from Carleton University
in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
and worked as an independent journalist and later with Canadian media outlets during the 1980s.
He worked at NBC
as a foreign correspondent and host of Dateline NBC
from 1989 to 1992. After a contract dispute with NBC, he was fired in August 1992. He subsequently sued NBC for breach of contract, fraud, and defamation, a case that was settled in March 1994. Under the terms of the agreement, NBC paid Kent an undisclosed amount, and retracted prior statements about Kent and the dispute. Kent also won the right to publish testimony and evidence from the discovery
phase of the suit in his book, Risk and Redemption: Surviving The Network News Wars. He subsequently returned to Canada
to host the CBC
's Man Alive. He also established his own film company, Fast Forward Films, in Britain
.
Kent also has been working for BBC
, The Observer
and Maclean's
for over twenty years. He has also hosted many History Channel shows such as History's Mysteries
. One of his most notable documentaries is Afghanistan: Captives of the Warlords, shot secretly using a hidden camera. It shows life in Afghanistan under the repressive Taliban, contrasted against life under the much more lenient Northern Alliance
. First broadcast by PBS
in June 2001, an updated version received extensive broadcast on PBS affiliates and on the CBC
following the September 11, 2001 attacks
. It received the Gold WorldMedal at the New York festivals, and a Golden Eagle award from CINE
.
In 2007 Kent launched Sky Reporter, an outlet for new & archived documentaries and short films. Composed of 1-2 minute pieces from Afghanistan, London, Bosnia, Iraq, and other places, Sky Reporter features Kent's independent reportage and commentary direct from the field.
In November 2007, Kent was chosen by local party members as the Progressive Conservative
candidate for the Alberta provincial riding of Calgary Currie
. In the March 3, 2008 election he lost to incumbent Dave Taylor.
In 2008, Kent sued the makers of the film Charlie Wilson's War
claiming that the movie used material Kent produced in the 1980s without permission. On September 19, 2008, Kent announced that he had reached a settlement with the film's producers and distributors, and that he was "very pleased" with the terms of the settlement, which remain confidential.
Kent is a member of various media agencies:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television journalist. He rose to international prominence during the 1991 Persian Gulf War during which he acquired the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"The Scud
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
Stud". He is the brother of journalist Peter Kent
Peter Kent
Peter Kent, PC, MP is a Conservative member of parliament for the riding of Thornhill, and the current Minister of the Environment in the 28th Canadian Ministry.Previously, he was Deputy Editor of Global Television, a Canadian TV network...
.
Kent graduated from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and worked as an independent journalist and later with Canadian media outlets during the 1980s.
He worked at NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
as a foreign correspondent and host of Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
from 1989 to 1992. After a contract dispute with NBC, he was fired in August 1992. He subsequently sued NBC for breach of contract, fraud, and defamation, a case that was settled in March 1994. Under the terms of the agreement, NBC paid Kent an undisclosed amount, and retracted prior statements about Kent and the dispute. Kent also won the right to publish testimony and evidence from the discovery
Discovery (law)
In U.S.law, discovery is the pre-trial phase in a lawsuit in which each party, through the law of civil procedure, can obtain evidence from the opposing party by means of discovery devices including requests for answers to interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for...
phase of the suit in his book, Risk and Redemption: Surviving The Network News Wars. He subsequently returned to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to host the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's Man Alive. He also established his own film company, Fast Forward Films, in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Kent also has been working for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
for over twenty years. He has also hosted many History Channel shows such as History's Mysteries
History's Mysteries
History's Mysteries is an American documentary television series on the History Channel.-Overview:The 154 episodes of the series were produced from 1994-2006. Each season consisted of 12 to 14 one-hour episodes that focused on historical events or subjects considered to be mysterious by the general...
. One of his most notable documentaries is Afghanistan: Captives of the Warlords, shot secretly using a hidden camera. It shows life in Afghanistan under the repressive Taliban, contrasted against life under the much more lenient Northern Alliance
United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan
The United Islamic Front , known in the West and Pakistan as the Northern Alliance, was a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996 under the leadership of Defense Minister Ahmad Shah Massoud...
. First broadcast by PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in June 2001, an updated version received extensive broadcast on PBS affiliates and on the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
following the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. It received the Gold WorldMedal at the New York festivals, and a Golden Eagle award from CINE
CINE
CINE is a consortium formulated to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience. CINE recognizes and fosters the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual film competitions....
.
In 2007 Kent launched Sky Reporter, an outlet for new & archived documentaries and short films. Composed of 1-2 minute pieces from Afghanistan, London, Bosnia, Iraq, and other places, Sky Reporter features Kent's independent reportage and commentary direct from the field.
In November 2007, Kent was chosen by local party members as the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
candidate for the Alberta provincial riding of Calgary Currie
Calgary Currie
Calgary Currie is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:-Electoral history:The Calgary-Currie electoral district was created in the boundary redistribution of 1971. The electoral district was named after the former Currie Army Barracks...
. In the March 3, 2008 election he lost to incumbent Dave Taylor.
In 2008, Kent sued the makers of the film Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 American biographical comedy drama film recounting the true story of U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson who partnered with "bare knuckle attitude" CIA operative Gust Avrakotos to launch Operation Cyclone, a program to organize and support the Afghan mujahideen in their...
claiming that the movie used material Kent produced in the 1980s without permission. On September 19, 2008, Kent announced that he had reached a settlement with the film's producers and distributors, and that he was "very pleased" with the terms of the settlement, which remain confidential.
Kent is a member of various media agencies:
- International Federation of JournalistsInternational Federation of JournalistsInternational Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
- Britain's National Union of JournalistsNational Union of JournalistsThe National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
- PENInternational PENPEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
Canada - Writer's Union of Canada
- former board member, Military Reporters and Editors of America
- co-founder of TVNewscan, a project of The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs