Being a reporter means rising up

Reporting on the frontline is as dangerous as ever, but in an unstable world, journalists have a responsibility to fulfill.

Last week, a celebration was held honouring Michelle Lang, the first Canadian embedded journalist to be killed in the War in Afghanistan, on Dec. 30, 2009. Lang had been in the country for roughly two weeks, when the armoured vehicle that she was travelling in - with four Canadian soldiers – was struck by a bomb.

It brings me to question the lack of safety journalists experience, reporting on war and conflict, in a world that is growing increasingly shaky.

Taking photos or reporting on such events first-hand isn’t easy. This kind of journalism involves being in situations which can turn deadly, before one can react. Over 154 documented journalists have been killed in Syrian's civil war, according to the Syrian Journalist Association. The War in Afghanistan has seen over 27 journalists killed.

Opinion

Although there have been countless examples where journalists have been able to make an important difference with their story, I can’t help but wonder if this comes at too high of a cost.

For example take the photo Kenneth Jarecke took of an Iraqi soldier burnt alive trying to come out from a tank. It showed readers how gruesome the Iraqi war really was.

War reporter John Sack helped redefine war journalism using literature techniques to put the point across when he knew the original version wasn’t portraying things right.

Journalist Martha Gellhorn, on the other hand, shifted war journalism by focusing on the people instead of the armoury, military and government.

For those of us who want to be on the battleground, the stakes are risky. Yet, as journalists, we need to rise up to it.

Museums in Vancouver can be costly at roughly $20 per entry; for a family of four this adds up. Many cities in other parts of the world offer entry to museums for free, by donation or discounted on certain days of the month. JOE AYRES ILLUSTRATION