When we think of journalism, our minds usually revert to tired stereotypes of reporters sitting in offices transcribing quotes or staring intently at cameras as they recount the latest stories. Our minds do not automatically turn to those who travel to scenes of war, famine and political unrest. These individuals risk their lives in order to inform the public on what occurs around the world. Often, these news stories promote awareness and provide the opportunity for a population to remain informed. However, as the unrest in Syria escalates, civilians and soldiers have not been the only casualties. According to an article published by the BBC last Wednesday, veteran journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik lost their lives while reporting events in the volatile nation. Colvin, no stranger to reporting in unsettling circumstances, lost her eye reporting on war in Sri Lanka in 2001.
According to an article published by the BBC yesterday, efforts by the Red Crescent to evacuate two injured journalists failed. In addition, the bodies of the two journalists who died last week still remain in the area; the deceased were supposed to be evacuated along with the two living reporters. These events have prompted debate on whether it is ethically or morally correct to allow reporters to enter such dangerous situations for the sake of effective journalism. Many conclude an average newsreader often skims a story without taking any time to see who wrote the story, but for many reporters it’s the information that takes precedence over accreditation given to its source.
Because reporters cannot be heavily protected to the point where it inhibits their purpose, pursuing one’s passion means taking such risks. Reporters who devote their lives to spreading news will put their lives on the line to do what they love; no one forcefully places journalists in conflict zones, they venture there by their own volition. Recounting the atrocities in Syria from a secure office in New York would lack the immediacy and essence of a story recounted live from the country, and journalists who wish to capture the heart of a story will agree: Reporting from a distance would compromise the aim of journalism as a profession. There are numerous jobs that require risking one’s life. We should not shun these journalists by labelling them as reckless; those who brave the frontline of conflict for our benefit deserve to not die in vain.
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