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Previously I posted about investigative journalism. This subject extends into covering war, tragedy, and disaster. Those journalists who have either willingly volunteered or have been offered jobs covering such things often aren't prepared for what they see or hear. Statistically, more than half of the journalists who have covered war or disaster stories suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (which shall henceforth be referred to as PTSD). This disorder renders some victims sleepless, helpless, and sometimes injured. If basically is a disorder that makes you relive what you saw or heard. This can happen when one shuts their eyes or finds themselves in a similar situation to the experience. PTSD can be seriously ... well, traumatic for those who are unprepared.
Journalists who find themselves in the midst of war or disaster are very brave people. I personally would not be able to report on anything traumatic, let alone continue on in that career. Journalists like Daniel Pearl and Michael Kelly were people who gave everything for their job and their passion. They lost their lives in the pursuit of a story that would affect the people they loved at home. These people were so courageous and so passionate about what they did that they did not think about the consequences as they jumped into the fray, hoping to just get a glimpse of a news-worthy story.
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Daniel Pearl, died in 2002, was a passionate journalist who sought out the information he needed for a story in Pakistan. Once he gathered the information he needed he was quickly kidnapped and beheaded by Al-Qaeda. He risked it all just to get to the bottom of a story, and it cost him his life. This is the type of journalism that hold the greatest risks but produces the sweetest fruit. Daniel Pearl was on the way to interview a source of information but was abducted under the impression he was delving in too deep. Daniel Pearl just wanted to get to the bottom of it, but he was punished. He lived a full life and did not die in vain, as his death sparked a revolution in the American government to get the journalists out of that area before anything else could happen.
Michael Kelly, died in 2003, was a war reporter in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He had just finished his articles and journals before heading home with his fellow journalists. His car was shot down by soldiers. He was so dedicated to his job as a journalist that he traveled from America to Iraq just to get the scoop of the war. He gave his life for his career and his passion of writing. This is the dedication of investigative journalists.
You see, my dear readers, investigative journalism is not for the faint-of-heart. It is not something to be taken lightly. I mentioned in another post that it is a gift to be able to write like an investigative journalist. To be a war and disaster journalist takes a whole lot more. Courage, tenaciousness, a passion for what they love to do, a stomach of steel, a strong heart to be able to witness what they do and still give their heart to those affected by tragedy ... these are just a few characteristics of war and disaster journalists. It is outstanding, the work they do. I would never be able to stomach writing about the terrors that I would witness in a war zone.
For all those who have died giving us the real stories from the war zones, we thank you for your commitment. Without your sacrifice, we could not become the journalists we strive to be.
More information about war and disaster journalists who have fallen in the field below:
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