A Dinner Of Not So Many Freedoms

By now, we have all learned of the freedoms journalists in America receive. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are privileges that journalists in other countries only dream of. Investigative journalism can be a life threatening career in countries beyond the U.S. as many continue losing their lives.

But one night out of the year at the International Press Freedom Awards Dinner journalists from different countries can come together for a night free from worries and for some free from gun fire.

And here was Adela Navarro Bello, who didn't have to wear her bulletproof vest on this night, so she looked like just a pretty 39-year-old woman dressed up for a fancy Manhattan party, not the brave leader of a Mexican weekly whose co-founder and former co-editor were murdered

I never imagined journalists having to wear bulletproof vests. Obviously they must wear them when they report from the middle of wars but having to wear them while doing investigative work in one's county seems a bit ridiculous. These journalists are working hard to protect the public and keep them inform them of any corruption. They should be protected just like those who work for the government. Instead they are hunted by the government or those criminals who they uncover.

One journalists was absent from the dinner.

Gao Qinrong was not there, though he was invited. The government of China wouldn't let him leave the country. He spent eight years in prison for exposing a scam irrigation project in his drought-stricken home province of Shanxi.

These journalists have it bad. Some are trapped and afraid their own lives might be taken.

So far this year, 59 journalists have been confirmed killed while pursuing the fundamental task of seeking the truth and reporting it fully. Countless others have been beaten, roughed up, jailed or threatened.

These investigative journalists continue to pursue their work despite the many challenges. They are passionate about it and hold on to the hope that one day they will be able to have freedom of the press. And at least for one night of the year, those that can leave their countries, can get together and enjoy a dinner among their fellow colleagues.

When Stories Become to Much to Handle

When students graduate they hope to find careers that will give them a sense of accomplishment. Some will reach their goals and others will struggle in search of a job. Iris Chang was a talented investigative reporter by her mid-20s, but by the time she was 36 she took her life.

Chang's level of dedication was well known. Lesser known was the degree to which her research wounded her to the core, first exacerbating what was later revealed to be a bipolar disorder that, in tandem with severe hormonal fluctuations related to infertility treatments and miscarriages, eventually spun into a paranoiac psychosis.

Investigative reporters are often caught up in stories that affect human lives. Chang absorbed herself in stories of the victims of the Sino-Japanese War. It was only natural for her to feel anger, sadness and a sense of not being able to understand. She heard stories that no one can imagine.

Most of us will never understand what she felt. The closest we can get to her experience was what took place on September 11th. Many had mixed emotions about that day and every time we see the planes crashing into the buildings it takes us back to the exact place we were when it happened.

In Chang's book, Rape of Nanking, she described the stories of the victims of the war. These stories stayed in her mind and how can one forget such gruesome acts.

Chang's writing was filled with her outrage as the stories of Japanese soldiers grinning widely while holding up decapitated heads, throwing babies in the air only to skewer them on their bayonets and photographing Chinese women in obscene, pornographic poses of sexual humiliation prior to killing them.

Chang dealt with a lot of emotions. They affected her beyond what we can understand. It takes a lot to be an investigative journalist. Time, emotions and a balance between work and a personal life can cause people to become overwhelmed. People say journalists should put their feelings to the side but it is not natural to sit there and feel nothing. There is definitely more to journalism than we think.

The Internet as a Savior

There is no question about it. The internet has changed communication across the globe. But for journalists it is doing even more.

According to an online article on Turkish Daily News there is still hope for investigative journalism.

Yes, investigative journalism may be troubled but it is not dead yet, so let us do everything we can to better it, says acclaimed investigative journalist David Kaplan.

The internet has put so much information at our fingertips that some people get consumed in it and are trapped for hours. Students surfing the net block out their professors, children ignore their parents and yet Kaplan believes the internet is helping investigative journalism. He believes the internet helps journalists stay connected internationally and makes their stories stronger.

It is important to uncover misdeeds in our society but what is most important are stories that hit close to home. A car dealership in France might be selling lemons to the public but that story only relates to those in that particular area in France. People want to know about what's going on in their local area. Could a car dealership be scamming them?

The story might be interesting but it has to be interesting to its readers. That type of investigative journalism has no relevance in the states. Bringing journalists together from all countries is a huge step but to say the internet is helping investigative journalism is another.

15 Years of Work Stolen by the Government

If journalists in the U.S. think they have it bad they ought to be lucky they weren’t born in Croatia.

U.S. some believe the media is influenced by the government but one should consider how journalists in other countries are treated. It is a story of its own, how the Croatian government invaded one man’s home and seized 15 years of investigative journalism.

"They told my four-year-old daughter and my wife not to move and took everything from 15 years of investigative work - documents, cassettes and CDs," says Peratovic, who spent the night in prison before being released earlier this month.

The story reports that the men who entered Peratovic’s home were armed with guns. It had to have been like a hold up but instead of stealing money, jewelry and big screen TVs they took years of work that more than likely he will never get back.

As journalists we are protected by the first and fourth amendments which include freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to privacy. The most investigative journalists should fear in the U.S. are lawsuits. Then again everyone is being sued these days so maybe we should all watch out. But at least we can go home at night without the fear of the government banging down our doors for uncovering misdeeds.

Return of The Muckraking Age?

Flip on the local evening news and it's likely the same stories will be covered on every channel. As the saying goes "If it bleeds, it leads." But what happens when a business scams senior citizens or when insurance companies don't want to pay up? Most of the time people stay quiet, look the other way and feel helpless.

Rarely seen on the evening news or in newspapers are stories uncovering misdeeds. So, what can people do? Who can they turn to for help? Thanks to an up and coming nonprofit group called Pro Publica justice may very well be on its way.

As struggling newspapers across the country cut back on investigative reporting, a new kind of journalism venture is hoping to fill the gap.

Pro Publica plans on having 24 journalists. Its founders are Herbert M. and Marion O. Sandler who are Democrats and critics of President Bush.

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