Risks Journalists Take

 

1,800 pictures and glass plaques with the names of journalists line the wall at the Newseum in Washington D.C., covering an entire wall from top to bottom. After reading the caption accompanying the display it explains that these are the pictures of the journalists who died covering the news from 1837 to 2007. The Newseum recently added 158 names to this memorial in honor of those journalists who had been killed between 2006 and 2007.

If it weren’t for the journalists who go to the countries like Darfur, Afghanistan, or Iraq during times of conflict, the common citizen would be uninformed and possibly unconcerned by the disasters unfolding hundreds of miles away.

Over the past week at Georgetown University during a journalism seminar for their School of Continuing Studies high school program, guest speakers ranging from pollsters, former Ambassadors to Sudan, and reporters have been talking to teens about the ongoing conflict in Sudan and ways of gathering information to sufficiently cover it and similar events.

“My job is to write articles about people who are trying to help,” Emily Holland, the in-house producer for the International Rescue Committee, said, “to translate the humanitarian world to your schools and your living rooms, to learn a little bit more about it, and to care enough when you’re older to donate.”

In times of the changing media, reporters, journalists and humanitarians are all now looking for different ways to present their information that can generate interest in the public.

“People used to say, why do care about Africa? Nobody’s going to pay attention. But by using our new interactive media and multiple angles to cover our story like online reports and broadcasts,” Nathalie Applewhite, associate director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, said, “people did end up caring.”

But in the chase for a good story, journalists take the risks of getting caught up in the conflict surrounding them.

“The first time I ever saw a foreign correspondent covering Vietnam, I thought that’s pretty glamorous, I want to do that,” Susan Milligan, correspondent for the Boston Globe, said. “Basically it didn’t occur to me that he could die. Because he was on TV, it gave me the illusion that he was safe, and I think we still think that way today.”

But after having been in places such as Kosovo and Albania, Milligan can pledge that there is nothing “glamorous” about having a “gun held to the base of your skull.”

“Before getting into this job, you have to know and understand that the risks today are maybe even greater than when I started out as a reporter.” Milligan said. “Back then, the reporters traveled with the army and were protected to a degree, but now it seems as if we’re on the front lines.”

Now when journalists head out to the danger zones looking for a story, there are cardinal rules they all know to follow.

“You never go anywhere alone,” Milligan said. “And although you may  think when you’re with other reporters, that  you’re safe because there’s a lot of other westerners around and that they won’t do anything to you, but you’re wrong. I remember just standing on top of my hotel’s rooftop watching the bombs drop and all of a sudden these men with guns told me to come with them.”

After her and a number of other reporters were arrested, Milligan’s sister received a phone call from her foreign editors telling her sister that she had been taken into custody and that they had no idea how they were going to get her out.

“That was a pretty tense night. We were in a war zone, there were no rules,” Milligan said. “We didn’t know if they would kill us or what they were going to do to us.”

Eventually the authorities let her and the other reporters leave, also kicking them out of the country.

“I remember there being a point during another one of my assignments that the other, older reporters sat me down and told me straight off, that I was being too cavalier,” Milligan said. “They said, just because they weren’t shooting at me that didn’t mean I couldn’t be hit.”

In places like Albania and Kosovo Milligan claims she wasn’t a target, but that that all changes in zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, where as an American you become a target.

“I remember feeling relatively safe in Pakistan when Daniel Pearl had been kidnapped,” Milligan said. “And then I got the email showing the video telling all journalists to leave the country or that we’d be killed to.”

Milligan states that when you start to “feel that you’re safe and get too comfortable,” that’s when you’re the most at risk to getting hurt.

“Never go anywhere alone.” Milligan said. “When somebody insists that you go alone to get you’re story, realize it’s not worth it – you may not get out of there alive.”

Now that more and more journalists are heading into these unstable countries, many are receiving training to help prepare them for when they do run across a volatile situation.

“I remember going to a conference with the MI-5, where they taught me all these tricks to protecting myself,” Milligan said. “The one thing they said that was most important was that if you ever start feeling uncomfortable, get out. Just because you can’t see it or hear it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. It could mean the difference between life and death.”

A Generation of Quitters

Ballet. Crew. Basketball. Volleyball. Lacrosse. Badminton. Field hockey. Soccer. These are just some of the sports and activities Libby Graham can remember she’s quit during her sixteen years.
“I have different reasons for quitting each.” Graham said as she recalled her memories of her past hobbies. “The first sport I ever quit was soccer. I had played for six years.”
Then suddenly she stopped playing.
“Around that time I was playing soccer, my family and I moved to Maryland. I just kinda stopped playing because I didn’t know anybody.” Graham said. “I was embarrassed. I was worried that people would maybe not want to be my friend or that I’d take someone’s spot on the team.”
After her fateful move, the sports and hobbies given up kept piling.
“When I joined crew and badminton I was really only in them for less than a day.” Graham said nonchalantly. “My parents did this thing where they forced me to join something, anything, every new school year.”
With the workload less than any other time for Graham in the fall, she was able to try out nearly every sport her small private school had to offer.
“With basketball, the reason I quit was my broken finger. The coach actually broke my finger and that really made me realize, ‘Hey, I don’t want to play for this woman anymore.’”
Nowadays, Graham has found her sport. Her place in the athletic world at her school – a player on the tennis team.
“I have finally found something I really like to do,” Graham states. “I’m not going to quit tennis, for sure. I actually like it.”
Graham claims all one must do to find their niche or what they like to do most is try everything else out until stumbling upon what you want.

In the eyes of the older generation, these Y2K babies have seemed to lost their tough skin, their willingness to stay in the game, their overall drive to stay in something till it’s done.
“Well, back in my day, we couldn’t just quit something whenever we felt like it.” Cindy Martinez, 46, said. “There was money involved. Money that wasn’t such a luxury as the younger kids think it is today.”
When asked of her childhood and teen experience regarding sports and clubs Martinez vowed to have never quit one.
“Everything I did in high school, I did four years.” Martinez said confidently. “One club I can remember wanting to quit at times was the Pep Club. But I never did, I had to earn that uniform my parent’s paid for.”
Is there any other explanation as to how someone could manage to collect four credits of Home Ec in high school then refusal to give up and throw in the towel on a club?
“You know, I think the biggest problem is laziness.” Martinez said. “You kids just don’t give anything a chance. You try something, get bored and don’t get to even know if you really like it.”

What does young Libby Graham say to remarks made by the older set about her generation’s supposed lack of enthusiasm and commitment to nearly anything?
Whatever.
“People say whatever they want, but they don’t know why I or anyone else for that matter quit something.” Graham says. “I have my personal reasons they will never know about.”

Script from Mass Communications: A Hollywood Hit

TAGLINE: You’ve heard the rumors about Hollywood, now find out they’re true.

Int. scene – description
A group of bored looking producers, writers and directors are sitting around a table at a typical board meeting, constantly checking their Blackberries for any new messages or calls. The desk is littered with coffee cups and dozens of crumpled up balls of paper. A few scared assistants sit behind their bosses dutifully taking notes and nodding their heads obediently.

WRITER
We need something new. Something juicy. Something never been done before.

PRODUCER
Everything’s been done. Tina! More coffee!
Blackberry rings an extremely obnoxious tone. Director picks it up without excusing himself.

DIRECTOR
Spielberg speaking. Yep, I’m just here in this meeting. Yeah, going nowhere. I’ve run dry… (Starts nodding) A talking dog? That can fly? Incredible. (Turns to group) Let’s do it.

WRITER
Fresh. I love it. But we need something else to clinch the Oscar…

DIRECTOR
Well we’re obviously missing a topless scene. Julia Roberts booked?

PRODUCER
And the kiss in the rain? But we gotta keep the film hip, indie, it’s gotta be two chicks… Tina, I’ve told you countless times, 3 and a 1/2 milks not four!
TINA comes hand shaking with a new cup of coffee and drops it off in front of him without a thank you.

WRITER
Perfect. I see it now… Guy is confused, washes his face to clear his head in front of his foggy mirror and suddenly, Aha! He’s gotta go find the girl. This role just screams Tom Cruise. He still asking for 20 mil a picture?

DIRECTOR
(Thoughtfully)
But girl doesn’t swing that way… So, conundrum.
Producer gets up and stands behind the director and writer to put his hands on their shoulders before delivering his “amazing” idea.

PRODUCER
Two words: dream sequence. Guy wakes up, turns over in bed, and there’s the broad. Problem solved.
There is a moment of tension as they wait for a reaction. All signs are leading to a negative response. But then the Writer’s face turns from unsure to delighted.

WRITER
Pure genius! That’s Scorsese stuff right there. Set the budget to 20 million and lets shoot.
The three execs turn to each other in sheer joy and begin to talk excitedly in a small circle. Camera zooms in past the hot-shots to focus on two of the assistants who turn to face each other shaking their heads in disbelief.

THE END

The Curse is Over… Again

Two days after the Celtics’ landslide victory (131-92) in TD Banknorth Garden stadium, the familiar green and white jerseys could still be spotted all over Boston. For many, the Celtics’ advancement into the Final Four brought back memories of the notorious Red Sox victory in 2004. With these riots and the death of a college girl the night the Sox finally broke the curse and the streets were in chaos in the back of official’s minds, heavy precautions were set so an uprising of that magnitude would not occur again on Tuesday.
Before the game even began on TV, a special ad was aired starring members of the team urging Bostonians to party responsibly. Scott McKay, who lives in Dorchester, took the words of warning and precaution to heart while entertaining. “This win was all smooth sailing,” McKay said. “We all learned from the Sox victory to be more careful that night. When the Celtics won it was a lot of crying, hugging, confetti and partying but definitely no cars being flipped over, riot parades or helicopters like last time.”
Steven Richards, who traveled to Boston for the game with his wife, Brandon, flew in from Arkansas and bought his tickets the day of the game. “Section 328, row 14, up there in the balcony.” Richards said. “I’ve seen a lot of basketball in my day, and that was definitely one of the best games I’ve ever seen.”
Along with the countless police, SWAT teams wandered around Fanueil Hall keeping a watchful eye on fans before and after the game. “There was definitely a lot of manpower out and about. Even on the trolley, there was a team of police standing around – my wife wanted to take a picture.” Richards said. “This victory was one they were prepared for, everything was in order.”
From the perspective of those that worked in Fanueil Square on Tuesday night, events were noticeably different from any other normal day on the job but nearly not as crazy as the night the Red Sox won the World Series.
“Everything was obviously chaotic. Things got crazy even before the end of the game because you could tell we had won even as early as halftime.” Andrew Scully, who worked that night at the nearby Bostonian Hotel, said. “There were two times the amount of people usually around Fanueil; we couldn’t get cabs for anybody.”
The night the Celtics won the NBA championship for the first time in 22 years is a memory fans will remember; except for those fans like McKay who only “wish [they] could remember.”

Don’t Mess With Texas

Everyone rides their own horse, nearly all of us wear a cowboy hat at all times and most importantly Texas’ whole population votes Republican.
These are just some of the generalizations I heard when I asked strangers what they thought about Texas.
“I hate Texas, you all are a red state,” one particular girl who will remain anonymous for her own sake stated absolutely. When asked why she thought this was true about the entire state she replied, “Say what you want about my state and I’ll say what I want about yours.”
Well it’s definitely not my place to restrict her right to free speech and opinion, but is it too much to ask where people get these impressions of my home state without ever visiting or doing their research?
“There are several different Texas’,” Bob Berger, Texas History teacher said. “We’re just a big state, you have everything going on in different parts.”
In the latest elections, Texas has been counted as a red state most times, but according to Berger, this is somewhat a recent development.
“Texas used to always be a democratic state. Before the 80’s we were a very blue area.” Berger said. “And in the Rio Grande Valley where I live in deep South Texas you get a very different demographic than other, larger portions of the state.”
Living in McAllen, Texas the percentage of Latinos populating the area is in the 90% range and the amount of registered democratic voters is calculated in the 80% mark.
“In the Valley and areas like Travis County where you have places like Austin you have a very liberal population,” Berger said. “In other cities like Dallas it is largely Republican, but in the end they balance each other out and offer a different perspective.”
Before moving to Texas from Florida for college at the University of Texas in Austin, Berger denied believing in the stereotypes surrounding the Lone Star State.
“My brother had a lot of friends who went to UT’s journalism school so I got to know some Texans before going there myself,” Berger explained. “Although I was a little bit disappointed when I found out the rest of Texas wasn’t like Austin after graduating.”
When asked what his favorite thing about Texas was Berger replied with an unique answer.
“I just find the geography fascinating. Forget the people, the towns, just environmentally speaking, we are one the most diverse places.” Berger said. “You can start driving on the coast and in two hours you’re in the desert, drive another two hours and you’re in the rolling hills.”
With such diversity offered in one state, a true Texan can only think, what else do you want?
“We’re in such a day and age where the Modern Texan isn’t made of the same stuff we were decades ago.” Berger said. “Sure, hicks and hillbillies exist, but to judge all of us based on just a few is unrealistic thinking and prejudice.”

P.S. I Loathe You

2 hours and six minutes. 2 hours and six minutes of uncomfortably shifting from one side of my seat to the other. 2 hours and six minutes of awkward clichés, zero chemistry and wannabe tearjerker moments that left me feeling anything but remorseful.
P.S. I Love You, an adaptation of the best-selling book by Cecelia Ahern, starts with a ridiculously drawn-out screaming match between the two polar opposite main characters, Hilary Swank and Gerald Butler, over having children and moving into a bigger apartment. Quick editing and noticeable lack of music leaves the audience confused and unsure of whether or not the movie has even begun. Not a good start.
While the rest of the audience has gone googley-eyed over Butler’s smoking bod and too-thick-to-understand accent the moment he takes off his shirt, I sat in disbelief watching most of the audience over 40 fall into the trap of all looks and no substance.
Of course the fight is resolved in all of five minutes, just short enough to stop the viewer from starting to experience any real feelings of awkwardness that come from a realistic fight – and just like in any chick flick these days, the heated fight soon turned into a heated romp.
Although most of the audience did know that the plot gets rolling when Swank’s husband, the event of his death still seemed to come as a surprise. All of sudden, bam, he has a brain tumor and dies.
Did I forget to mention Butler plays an Irishman? A very big Irishman? So much so that the music director and all those involved in the process of making this dime-a-dozen flick decided to throw in as much stereotypical Irish music as possible in nearly every scene. Throw on this soundtrack during a get-together and you get the instant pub-at-your-place vibe.
But that’s beside the point… The worst part of Butler’s manufactured ethnicity and roots is the fact that halfway through the movie, Swank and her corny gal pals decide to take off to Ireland because he demanded it in a letter.
Although I must admit some shots of the Irish countryside were beautiful, I do so without praising the director – it’s nearly impossible to make Ireland look bad on film.
During Swank’s large-and-in-charge grieving process, which is stunted by her husband’s never-ending, cheesy letters, she finally meets another man. Take it that he is obsessive compulsive and a little neurotic, Harry Connick Jr.’s role as a bartender at her husband’s funeral lends the audience hope that maybe she will find a new man and move the hell on…
But we are left disappointed as Connick Jr. is forgotten in the US as Swank flees the states in her mad rush to fulfill her husband’s creepy wishes. His potentially pivotal role as the next flawed man of her dreams is put on the backburner and Connick isn’t in another scene till the last fifteen minutes. By then, we’re dissatisfied anyway.
Watching this movie with a bunch of people who loved it was the worst part. I couldn’t help but feel awkward when the lights went up and everyone was wiping away stray tears and trying to hide their tissues.
Once everyone made their way out of the theater, the conversation began with the question on everyone’s mind: “what’s going to happen to her now?” My response – No clue, and P.S. why should I care?