reporters in peril

posts about #reportersinperil more →
Euna Lee Wins Imprisoned Reporters' Book Deal Race
Iranian Govt. Winning War on Media
Speaking Out
Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Slain Journo Investigation Goes On
Formerly Imprisoned, Laura Ling and Euna Lee Now Free to Tell Their Tale (Mostly)
Not Great But Okay
Look at All These Guys Messing With This Reporter, Geez
The Backlash Against Laura Ling and Euna Lee Begins
Get Well Soon

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Novaload
11/13/09

In reply to Euna Lee Wins Imprisoned Reporters' Book Deal Race
They shouldn't get to keep any money from this--it should go to pay back all the resources used to extricate them from their own stupidity, and then the rest should be divided amongst all of us who had to listen to all the BS about them and by them while waiting for the weather report or some other far more important bit of news. They should also have to go do some anonymous community service while meditating on their unsuitability as "reporters." #eunalee
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Maxichamp
11/13/09

@Novaload: No kidding. For months, they denied crossing the border. When they were freed, they used euphemisms like "touched the border". You can't be a little bit pregnant. You broke the law. Live with it. #eunalee
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OldSpinDoc
11/13/09

@Novaload: And what were the people these lovely ladies were 'reporting" on going to do when the story ran?
I'm sure Harriet Tubman would have loved to read media accounts of her railroad while she was still shuttling people through it... #eunalee
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Novaload
11/13/09

@OldSpinDoc: Indeed. The local 'contacts' were reportedly begging them not to go further toward the border; and their translator and others said the Korean equivalent of Sod it! and vanished--all concerned for their safety after the Clueless Chicks 15 minutes were over. The Clueless Chicks were not, of course, concerned about them. #eunalee
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Maxichamp
11/13/09

In reply to Euna Lee Wins Imprisoned Reporters' Book Deal Race
It was strange during their imprisonment how they would flash her picture on the news and it's always that weird myspace-y picture. I mean, couldn't the family provide a more normal picture? #eunalee
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Betty Draper
11/13/09

@Maxichamp: I thought the exact same thing. #eunalee
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The Real JR
11/13/09

In reply to Euna Lee Wins Imprisoned Reporters' Book Deal Race
because you are not as interesting as your circumstances, no matter what Oprah says.

PREACH!!! PREACH IT!!

I think this simple truth is at the very core of why Gawker exists: Because some people take themselves way too seriously (ie: famous for doing nothing) which make them ripe for the snarking.

Dudes, doesn't the Lings realize that there's a HUGE fascination regarding what the hell is going on behind borders in North Korea. (Hell, wasn't that why they were there to begin with?) Why do I care about the beauty of Ling Sisterhood(tm) when i could get a firsthand account of Dear Leader battshittery with bonus Clinton on Air Fuck One action? #eunalee
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rudi_freude
11/13/09

@The Real JR: Maybe because The Sisterhood of the Traveling Lings sounds like it has box-office potential. #eunalee
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Magister
11/13/09

@rudi_freude:
While a variation on the "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (The Ling-Ling Sisterhood) could be mistaken for a film about Dick Nixon's relationship to a couple of pandas.
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Edited by Magister at 11/13/09 10:54 AM Magister was starred Magister was unstarred

Niko Bellic
11/13/09

@The Real JR: there's a HUGE fascination regarding what the hell is going on behind borders in North Korea

Wait, what? Did they capture Carrie Prejean now? #eunalee
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rudi_freude
11/13/09

@Niko Bellic: Niko. Niko, Niko. You're being inappropriate. #eunalee
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skt.smth
11/13/09

In reply to Euna Lee Wins Imprisoned Reporters' Book Deal Race
Korea 1
China 0 #eunalee
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Richard Petty Bourgeoisie
10/13/09

In reply to Iranian Govt. Winning War on Media
Ahmadinejad just wants to control all media. I guess he is a Sabourjian after all.
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Edited by Richard Petty Bourgeoisie at 10/13/09 9:34 AM

Swifter
10/13/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: Not much different than Rupert Murdoch, I'd say.
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smithhimself
09/10/09

In reply to Speaking Out
Maybe it is book ready, but I doubt if many imprints would bid on it. People don't care about the Taliban.

Krakauer's book about Pat Tillman is a definite bestseller. NFL player. Hero. Cover-up.
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hilikusopus
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Remember that publicity stunt last year, when that seemingly self-promoting French guy scaled the NYT's building? He was actually French special forces attempting a daring daytime rescue of the NYT's business model. Did it work?
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NcSchu
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
I'm pretty sure British/NATO troops rescued him, not U.S. troops.
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meechybee
09/09/09

@NcSchu: That's what I heard, too on the radio this morning. British troops, not US.
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AbaMorpheus
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Pardon this cynic point that I think has to be made in the midst of this bittersweet news, but....

Why is it that the New York Times or other newspapers have no problem suspending the publication of a story that is in the public's interest when it involves their own staff, while they have numerous times published information that puts troops lives in danger or scuttles missions that might benefit the US and its allies?

Case in point is the news story in, I believe, the Washington Post after 9/11 that pointed out intelligence forces had picked up bin Laden's satellite phone signal. About three days later that signal went dead, never to be picked up again, striking a blow for efforts to find him.

Just sayin'.
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The Lone Scout
09/09/09

@AbaMorpheus: Keep on sayin'.
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The Lone Scout
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Andrew, please add an update stating that a British commando was sacrificed during this rescue mission (a death that was noted with one sentence in the NYT article).

"Who dares, wins."

R.I.P.
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Edited by The Lone Scout at 09/09/09 9:35 AM The Lone Scout was starred The Lone Scout was unstarred

timeoutofmind
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
take note, you asshole cable news windbags. a real reporter, doing real work.
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The Lone Scout
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
And yet the tragic reality of journalist Munadi's death makes room for the kind of dark comic relief not unusual in war:

"Mr. Farrell, who holds dual Irish-British citizenship, said he heard more British voices and shouted, 'British hostage!'"

R.I.P., Mr. Munadi.
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Edited by The Lone Scout at 09/09/09 8:35 AM The Lone Scout was starred The Lone Scout was unstarred

VidarCicero
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
1) Mr. Farrell does not hold US citizenship - he holds British and Irish citizenships
2) It was not a "US special forces operation" - it was a UK special forces operation supported by Afghan troops. No US troops were involved.
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Adah
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Dear NY Times reporters: I understand that it is important to you to get the most accurate story possible, and that your job sometimes leads you into danger. But, given this recent trend, I'm asking you to reevaluate your security precautions.

"As the three men sped toward the village, they discussed what to do if stopped by militants along the way."

This might be something to consider before going out on your own in the middle of a country at war.

-Adah
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The Lone Scout promoted this comment Edited by Adah at 09/09/09 5:31 AM Adah was starred Adah was unstarred

The Lone Scout
09/09/09

@Adah: Indeed, U.S. forces offer training stateside to civilians planning to enter these combat zones in the course of their work. (This training, held at military installations such as Fort Bragg, can be highly accurate and typically includes a surprise "kidnapping" by U.S. military personnel dressed, acting, and speaking as local hostile parties would.) Does anyone know if this training is mandatory, or if it is offered by other allied forces?
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The Lone Scout
09/09/09

@Adah: And now the New York Daily News is reporting that "authorities had warned journalists that the area near the tanker strike was Taliban-controlled and dangerous."

So, a commando is uselessly dead because these two journalists took a miscalculated risk (and waited to discuss their exit plan until they were on their way).
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ALittleBitGothic2.0
09/09/09

In reply to Forces Rescue New York Times Reporter Kidnapped By Taliban
Not joyous. Sad. Sad. Sad.

Sultan A Munadi, the OTHER journalist kidnapped with Farrell, was killed.

Munadi wrote this haunting little blog post for the Times just days before his death:

"I would not leave Afghanistan. I have passed the very darkest times of my country, when there was war and insecurity. I was maybe four or five years old when we went from my village into the mountains and the caves to hide, because the Soviets were bombing. I have passed those times, and the time of the Taliban when I could not even go to Kabul, inside my country. It was like being in a prison.

Those times are past now. Now I am hopeful of a better situation. And if I leave this country, if other people like me leave this country, who will come to Afghanistan? Will it be the Taliban who come to govern this country? That is why I want to come back, even if it means cleaning the streets of Kabul. That would be a better job for me, rather than working, for example, in a restaurant in Germany.

Being a journalist is not enough; it will not solve the problems of Afghanistan. I want to work for the education of the country, because the majority of people are illiterate."

[atwar.blogs.nytimes.com]
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