One of the biggest challenges for a journalist is to report form a trouble spot. It’s not without reason war correspondents enjoy an exalted position. Terrains are hazardous, information is hard to come by, and it’s difficult to establish the veracity of what ever information comes by. And, most importantly, the reporters’ life itself can be at risk.
Here is an account of “Reporting Afghanistan” from the BBC blog: The Editors.
With that toll rising at an alarming rate, and with Afghans voting to elect a new president, BBC Radio 5 live wanted to see for itself what was happening – how the war against the Taliban was being fought and what life was like for some of those at the sharp end.
Aug 27, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Hello
Not just in Afghanistan but even places where low intensity conflict rages on are dangerous for journalists.
Here’s a link to a book on war reporting that I read in college. It’s not a heavy commentary but has a lot of information that a layperson can easily understand. It’s called ‘War Reporting for Cowards’ by Chris Ayres
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/books/review/24SHTEYNG.html?pagewanted=print
Aug 28, 2009 at 12:57 am
That is so interesting. We don’t even think of the journalists who cover wars for us..
Aug 31, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Journalism is no featherbed when you realize the occupational hazard of these professionals.
A far cry from some of our local newspapers and channels who forge the reports and stories through group discussion and imagination.