Our World

Being a War-Time Journalist

With everything we have discussed regarding the war throughout our blogging experience, I think this article I found on MSNBC.com is interesting. It reported that more than 500 journalists have been killed in war zones in the last 10 years. 86 of these deaths have been in Iraq since March 2003. It was also mentioned that the drivers and translators, mostly local Iraqis, have died as well. These Iraqis also risked their lives to help the journalists from the Western world, just so they can write and report the stories.
One journalist named Steven Vincent lost his life. His wife Lisa Ramaci-Vincent started a foundation, Reporters Without Borders, to assist families of freelance war reporters who are killed while on the job. The foundation helps anyone who has worked with the reporter from Third World countries. Many have no death benefits and have relied on the family member to support them.
I liked Lisa’s comment stating that “Americans don’t have a positive image in the world. They are seen as big bullies. It helps when America shows it owes a debt to other nations. Every day you buy a copy of the newspaper, you don’t understand how these journalists got their amazing stories and who put their lives on the line to help them.” I think many times we criticize reporters and what’s on the news. We question how truthful the story may be, what facts we are being told, and if the story is accurate. In this situation we are reminded how these reporters are putting their lives on the line so in 2006, we can have up to date information and know what’s happening immediately in the world.
Lisa also shared that journalism has changed because reporters in the past were respected like a Red Cross worker. If they were not a soldier, there was never an excuse to ever harm them. Today, she says everyone is a target and everyone can be shot and killed at anytime.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15841115/site/newsweek

posted by Anonymous @ 12/14/2006 05:04:00 PM