Too Dangerous to Cover?

With many correspondents risking their lives to get information and events out to the public safety does not matter depending on the location.  “Website updates and annual reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists show that the number of journalists who have been harassed, intimidated, threatened or deliberately killed has escalated in the last two decades” (Committee to Protect Journalists, n.d).  The world can appear unsafe from any location, no matter if the correspondent is local or foreign.  It is the desire to let the world know what is going on and becoming aware of those events in order to get voices of those who cannot speak out against wrong doings to reach the world.  In truth, what is the price some correspondents are willing to pay in order to provide the globe with information?  Although many people believe there are extreme risks and concerns with using a foreign reporter to cover wars and unhuman acts.  “One of the greatest threats to freedom of expression around the world is the violence committed against journalists practicing their profession in conflict situations” (Lisosky & Henrichsen, 2009). 

            Yet the arguments for and against using foreign correspondents falls down on the government’s approval to allow them into the country, once again this denies the freedom of speech any journalists stand behind.  In some ways, foreign correspondents are the voice for when local journalists are unable to speak out against an injustice. Another argument is who is assigned to cover the news in foreign locations, with high violence or risk.  According to Janine di Giovanii, war can attract certain types of individuals.  “Those who want to witness, describe and communicate the important and often tragic facts: a noble motive, because the world should know these things, and among of us a noble posture (we are bearing witness).  There are also those who just love it…” (Owen & Purdey, 2009, p. 12)  In truth, I believe it takes a combination of both these types to provide the voice of those who are not able to speak out.  

Reference

Committee to Protect Journalists. (n.d). Journalists killed since 1992 - Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved from http://cpj.org/killed/

Lisosky, J. M., & Henrichsen, J. (2009). Don't shoot the messenger: prospects for protecting journalists in conflict situations. Media, War & Conflict, 2(2), 129. doi:10.1177/1750635209104651

Owen, J. & Purdey, H. (Eds.). (2009). International news reporting: Frontlines and deadlines. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.