THE QUESTION
BBC's Alan Johnston is still missing after 100 days. Have Western journalists lost their "white flag" of neutrality? How can they get it back?
FROM THE PANEL
Being a Bargaining Chip May Mean Survival
Western reporters long ago lost their "white flag" of neutrality. My own concern, however, is as much for local reporters in crisis countries, whose fates rarely get written up. While captured Western journalists are valued prizes to be bartered for political gain, local reporters lack such value and are quickly killed.
Michael Young Beirut, Lebanon |
3 COMMENTSJun 23, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Self-Righteous Obsession Dehumanizes
The tragedy of Alan Johnston and other journalists who were kidnapped or slaughtered in cold blood is not about journalistic objectivity; it is about people living in religious obsession losing their minds. People who live with an obsessive feeling of victimization and believe they speak on behalf of God do not follow the rules of humanity.
Bashir Goth Somalia/UAE | 191 COMMENTSJun 23, 2007 at 12:55 PM
In Rio, Journalism Under Siege
Gaza is not the only dangerous place for a journalist. In Brazil, our most dangerous challenge is to cover the violence in Rio de Janeiro's drug lord territory. Five years ago a journalist was kidnapped and killed by drug lords. His death should have convinced his colleagues to work harder to uncover the plight of the poor, but the opposite happened.
Miriam Leitao Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 25 COMMENTSJun 22, 2007 at 1:40 PM
If Neutrality is a Myth, Try Fairness
During the East Timor war of independence in the 1990s, the Indonesian military accused the press of siding with the rebels, while the rebels accused us of serving the Indonesian propaganda machine. The reality is that we do carry our personal biases, from our culture, values and life experiences. But we harm ourselves if we do not seek to be fair.
Endy Bayuni Jakarta, Indonesia | 6 COMMENTSJun 22, 2007 at 1:14 PM
In Lawless Gaza, Neutrality Doesn't Matter
Alan Johnston's situation has nothing to do with his neutrality but with the lawlessness in Gaza. When I visited Ramallah on a delegation from the International Press Institute, Hamas ministers and President Abbas all told us they were against his abduction and praised his work. But there is no enforceable law that protects him.
Daoud Kuttab Princeton, NJ | 25 COMMENTSJun 21, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Don't Blame West, Blame Islamists
All wars are brutal, but even Mao Zedong recognized journalists as independent and useful to both sides, seeking to exploit them but not physically harm them. Alan Johnston's captors have not objected to any of his professional activities, demonstrating purely political motives. They play by very different rules.
Shim Jae Hoon South Korea | 40 COMMENTSJun 21, 2007 at 11:25 AM
READER RESPONSE
Recent Comments
x2 on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: The answer
Patrick Huss on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: The "white
reporter, USA, http://theclearsky.blogspot.com/ on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: With rare
Burke on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: KHALID AWA
Manjula Sastri Vemuri on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: Journalist
Manjula Sastri Vemuri on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: Journalist
Manjula Sastri Vemuri on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: Journalist
daniel on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: BBC's Alan
Venkat on Western Journalists Lost Neutrality?: I feel one