Some sources report that as much as 140 reporters (including Egyptians) were harassed, beaten, detained, sexually or otherwise assaulted in Egypt during the Egyptian Revolution. Some of them managed to heal their bruises themselves, some ended up in the hospitals. Many of them were arrested by the government security forces and detained for a number of days - a clear violation of the international law - but the actions of the Army or the official Security Forces are not the subject I want to dwell upon now. I am far more interested in what happened to the reporters in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria or other cities.
Covering the street fights, or any other unrest similar to the latest in Egypt, or Tunisia (Bahrain, Algeria, Yemen, Iran etc.) is probably the most dangerous job for the journalist.
I strongly believe that it is more dangerous than being a war correspondent. Although the chance of being killed is much higher as a war journalist, everything is much better defined. No one wanders to the enemy territory just to cover it without the army support. In the unrest, this support is either scarce or non existent.
The mentality of the crowd, it's psychology is a very complex one, but it's safe to simply call it "explosive, flammable, volatile...". A friendly crowd may change to a hostile one within a split second. It's sometimes even hard to understand the reason for it. Even more so if the journalist is of completely different cultural (and/or ethnic) background.
A crowd is completely unpredictable, prone to any provocation from forces whose agenda includes such a manipulation.
In Egypt of early February such a vitriol force consisted of the 'paid thugs' who were sent to the crowd to ignite the violence. But, please do not take me wrong - also among the protesters (like within any group of people anywhere in the whole world) one can find individuals of very low moral standards, who thrive in a violent environment and intend to ignite that. It only adds to the danger.
In any unrest, some part of the demonstrators accept the helping hand no matter what direction this hand is coming from, and others reject completely (often very naively) any form of foreign "intervention" - when the foreign journalists may be considered a part of this 'intervention'. This part of the psychology of the crowd IS PREDICTABLE. All the networks sending the journalists to such a 'tinder box' situation have to know that, and act upon this knowledge.
It's true even if the journalists cover the events in their (or similar) countries where they can 'blend in' or at least not to 'stand out'. It's a rule of involvement - not to draw too much attention to themselves while covering any social development.
However we have seen on the TV and heard also the relations about the journalists, even the seasoned ones, who go to the streets while the events are unfolding without any security personnel. If one has a pale skin, and a fair hair, and doesn't speak a fluent Arabic - the network should provide a higher security.
For some reason I am not much concerned about the whereabouts of Richard Engel, or Ben Wedeman, who know the Egyptian street, know the mentality of the people and know what they can and can not do, although what they do puts them in risk, nevertheless. For the same reason I wouldn't be afraid of Christiane Amanpour who ALWAYS had a scarf on her had when covering any events in the Arab countries. This sort of preparations goes without saying In the country where the majority is Muslim, and there are NO women on the streets without the scarf on their heads (at least a scarf).
WHEN IN ROME, DO AS ROMANS DO. Is it so hard to remember and apply this rule? When walking the streets of Cairo, or Alexandria, my wife (although a brunette) had a scarf on her head no matter if we were going to a restaurant, or just sightseeing. It just feels better when people do not look at you with disapproval. It's their country - we are just guests (more or less invited and approved, but it goes only so far).
In the normal - every day life in Egypt, my wife and some of my friends were on multiple occasions mildly harassed (groped) by some Egyptian males. It happens on the buses, it happens in some places where the distances between people shrink, or disappear. It ALWAYS happens in a crowd. In all Arab countries the society gives completely different rights to different genders. Egypt isn't an exception - it's a MALE SOCIETY, where women are 'allowed' to be journalists, lawyers, doctors... The key word being: "ALLOWED". It is different than Western societies. It is "different" and even if the change for the better comes (slowly), it's not going to happen overnight.
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What I said above doesn't make me any less furious and sad, knowing what happened to the CBS foreign correspondent Lara Logan, and many other woman correspondents.
The reports said:
"CBS correspondent Miss Logan endured a 'brutal and sustained' sexual assault and beating while covering the resignation of President Mubarak in Egypt.The mother-of-one had been surrounded by an angry mob of 200 people before the assault which is thought to have lasted up to half an hour. She had to be saved by a group of women and 20 Egyptian soldiers and was later taken to hospital."
Every correspondent knows the risk involved (or is supposed to know) in covering such events. But we all know, that in our, so competitive world, where "information war" is strictly connected to the "ratings war" between the networks - in order to do the job right one is supposed to 'push the envelope' as far as it goes. The networks expect more and more daring reports, and commentaries. The key worn here is 'daring'... Some believe in their '9 lives'. Some trust their instincts, and some simply loose the perspective, push too hard and fall victim...
Unfortunately such tragedies happen. We loose quite a number of journalists, who are kidnapped, beaten, sexually violated... every year.
Sometimes it's just an accident... one of the elements of the job... Sometimes there is no way of protection...
But in the case of Lara Logan who suffered the most, or Anderson Cooper who was smacked around near Tahrir Sq, or Hala Gorani who was pushed against the fence and miraculously saved by one of the demonstrators - I BLAME THE NETWORKS FOR NOT PROVIDING INCREASED NUMBER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL to protect highly exposed journalists.
It's also disgusting when some 'fellow journalists' suddenly accuse the victims of perpetrating the events themselves. Unfortunately we heard such voices also during any "rape" trials - voices which blamed the 'victims' for bringing 'it' on themselves. When such words come from the mouths of uncultured, uneducated people, we know that nothing can be done to prevent it...
In the case of the journalists who were harmed in Egypt such voices are uttered by the members of the same profession (!!!!!!!), the elite, if you will. Let me introduce a few of these people with a confused moral standing, and vitriol attitude:
Debbie Schlussel Conservative political commentator, radio talk show host, columnist, and attorney (debbieschlussel.com) posted a picture of Miss Logan on her blog, under the headline: 'Islam Fan Lara Logan Gets a Taste of Islam' as well as 'Lara Logan’s Taste of Islamic Jew-Hatred'. Yesterday Schlussel wrote: 'So sad, too bad, Lara.
'No one told her to go there. She knew the risks. And she should have known what Islam is all about. Now she knows. Or so we’d hope. 'Hope you’re enjoying the revolution, Lara! Alhamdilllullah [praise allah].'(quote after dailymail.co.uk)
Nir Rosen, a journalist and a fellow at New York University (resigned today) insensitively tweeted a very derogatory remarks:
“Lara Logan had to outdo Anderson,” Rosen Tweeted, referring to the Anderson who was punched in the head multiple times while covering the recent demonstrations in Egypt’s Tahrir Square.
“Yes yes it’s wrong what happened to her. Of course. I don’t support that. But it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too,” he continued on Twitter, followed by a string of Tweets that were even more hurtful and disrespectful.
”Jesus Christ, at a moment when she is going to become a martyr and glorified we should at least remember her role as a major war monger”
“Look, she was probably groped like thousands of other women.”
Rush Limbaugh - I guess I do not have to introduce this conservative nitwit (on the Feb. 04) - "... I mean even two New York Times reporters were detained. Now this is supposed to make us feel what exactly? ... Are we supposed to feel outrage – I don’t feel any outrage over it. Are we supposed to feel anger – I don’t feel any anger over this. Do we feel happy? ..."
However, when word came later in his show that Fox News’ Greg Palkot was attacked, it didn’t seem so funny anymore.
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What happened to all these injured or just psychologically scarred journalists is appalling, but it's the risk they willingly take - we should be appreciative of that. But providing them with no security in such a volatile environment is completely shortsighted and despicable.
I did not even want to summarize what I thought about the 'fellow' journalists who heartlessly attacked and ridiculed the victims of these attacks (it would have been un-civilized...).
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