Journalists: On the Subject of Courage
Courage, as these journalists remind us, exposes itself in different guises. It can be found in the wisdom of understanding when danger finally has outweighed the risk. Or it can surface when threats to personal safety lurk but the lessons of training combine with inner strength to push fear aside and persevere. Courage can reside, too, in a journalist's isolation when editorial stands taken shake the foundation of friendship and sever long-held ties to one's community. In this issue, glimpses of such journalistic courage are offered.
International News Safety Institute (INSI) is a nonprofit organization comprised of journalists working on behalf of other journalists. As such, it requires the support of concerned journalists and news organizations for its work to continue. Chris Cramer, the managing director of CNN International and honorary president of INSI, has expressed his frustration that broadcasters and agencies lead the way on safety. "Newspapers and magazines ... have been the slowest in making this a priority," he said in remarks he made in 2002. That situation has not changed much in the past four years. INSI counts only three newspapers in its 60-plus membership.
