Often times, we see news of journalists receiving malicious threats for simply doing their work.  To a certain extent, a lot of their lives were being put in harm’s way whenever they chase a ‘controversial’ story. Nevertheless, journalists braved danger in the face of these menaces. They are willing to go through great lengths and risks in order to tell the stories that were hid behind the public curtains.  Without their courageous behavior, corruption and tyranny would have flourish in this world. It is the press that helps keep the powerful in check as they help us hold authorities accountable. They inform us on factual information for us to make clear decisions. Without their fearless actions, we wouldn’t have known cases like the Watergate Scandal, or even the Harvey Weinstein scandal. 

Ronan Farrow spent about ten months on his investigation, finding and interviewing survivors of the case. When he started investigating the allegations made against Harvey Weinstein, Farrow was repeatedly harassed as efforts to bury his reporting. However, despite being constantly followed by secret agents that were hired by the notorious Hollywood mogul, Farrow never stopped pushing his story, even when NBC (originally where Farrow worked at) refused to publish it due to the network being put under pressure from Weinstein.

Farrow’s bravery in his reporting did more than opening the public’s eye to how prominent men in Hollywood got away with their crimes. It ignited the Me Too movement and sparked a series of allegations against other notable Hollywood men as women survivors began coming forward with their stories online. Discussions about sexual harassment has also become more apparent and talked about compared to years before the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke. All thanks to Ronan Farrow’s courage to go after Hollywood's biggest and most powerful man! 

It’s one thing to be passionate but it’s another thing to be persistent. Persistent journalists are able to dig out key information for their stories. When you’re persistent, you thrive to do your best in your work regardless of the number of rejects you have from your editors, the dead ends you reached in your stories or the frustrating issue of contacting unwilling interviewees and requesting them for answers. Persistent journalists write their stories in meticulous details since they’ve spent hours and hours researching and collecting facts for their story. Without persistent journalists, we wouldn’t be able to read comprehensive stories. Every single minute detail in a news story is important as a sentence can change our perception of a case. Determined journalists strive to chase after every part of their story as they can in order to be factual and unbiased. For instance, Garrett Thereolf. 

Garrett Thereolf who worked on the ‘Gabriel Fernandez story’ had face countless of adversities, including his mental health at the time. He shared that cracking the inner workings of the system was difficult as there was no transparency and a lot of the information was being hidden deep. It didn’t help much when the Los Angeles County probed Thereolf to send every single email that had been directed to him regarding the case after they discovered he was asking around about Gabriel. Not to mention, gruesome details of Gabriel’s abuse and eventual death put Thereolf under heavy emotional distress that he himself admitted he had cried multiple times. The uneasy process has also caused Thereolf to seek therapy as he was left with ‘battle wounds’ ‘that would stay with him for the rest of his life’. However, that didn’t stop him from carrying on with his investigation and bringing justice to Gabriel. 

When the story broke, it exposed the systemic failures within the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services as well as other county departments. Gabriel who was eight at that time died at the hands of his own mother and boyfriend’s horrific torture but could have been saved if the departments did their job. After Gabriel Fernandez, Thereolf continued to work on investigative stories on child welfare as there were still a lot of ground that was not being covered. Because of Garrett Thereolf’s relentless thrive to chase after his story in spite of the many obstacles he had to overcome, he helped shine a light on the problems and inadequacies with the Department of Children and Family Services in America that most people weren’t aware of.

Fairness, objectivity and honesty are three core values that are often being emphasized in journalism. Hence, it’s common that to be a journalist, you must possess a strong sense of integrity. Journalists cannot be easily swayed in their reports. They must write the truth in order to gain the public’s trust, especially when the rise of fake news is more prevalent than ever albeit it makes the job of a journalist harder. The public needs to be informed on reliable decisions in order to make sensible choices. Without a neutral, unbiased story, the public wouldn’t be given the whole picture of the story and make fair judgments of it. Understandably, integrity can be hard to uphold when you’re in a country that use legal threats to intimidate the media. For example, Malaysia. 

The Malaysian media is heavily regulated with draconian laws that are dressed as political weapons, often to hide the misconducts of politicians. Due to this, there a lot of restraints for journalists when it comes to writing their stories. A lot of times, journalists who report concerns surrounding the government are persecuted with reasons that it’s ‘an improper use of network facilities’ or it’s seen as a ‘national threat’ of security. However, Clare Rewcastle Brown from The Sarawak Report didn’t shy away from being critical against the government when she blew the whistle on the world’s biggest corruption scandal- the 1MDB scandal. 

Like the journalists above, Rewcastle Brown’s investigation on the financial scandal led her to a tough journey as she was constantly stalked, receiving death threats and was even banned from Malaysia! Nevertheless, she stood on her ground and didn’t back down from the story. What’s more interesting was that Rewcastle Brown’s original story idea was about environmental degradation but her findings had led her to uncover a criminal case that had fooled the citizens of Malaysia for years. Clare Rewcastle Brown’s integrity oil the wheels to a large part of the change in government during the 2018 election- the first time in 60 years former ruling party BN was finally voted out. It contributed to one of Malaysia’s major historical event. It was the day where Malaysians have started to regain their hopes.  

 

Curiosity weeps truth, not everything is as great as it seems to be on the surface, a journalist’s job is to look at the facts, study them, analyze them and look past and into them. For many years Dubai was thought to be a powerhouse, of economy, business, tourism, infrastructure and wealth. Many journalists wrote about the growing city and admired it for the beautiful city that it was growing to be. Guided by a man of great ambition and great vision. Yet one anonymous reported looked past the glory and started to ask questions about how private companies were able to achieve so much and in so little time. A vision investigative reported, went undercover and was promised good money and honest work. upon reaching Dubai the contract that he has signed with the company seemed like a worthless document of paper and ink. He could only describe his ordeal as modern day slavery. This publication went viral and many other news organizations including vice brought it to light and the government was outraged by what many private companies were doing to laborers to cut costs. This was the beginning of a swift change within the laborer’s laws and rights. 

 

 

You may have heard that in many of the Gulf countries journalism is very limited, you may have also heart that all GCC countries prize their local nationals more then anything. This is true, by word of mouth and not by law. Law’s in Most GCC countries were set in place to protect everyone who is in GCC land. Yet many locals feel obliged to protect their local image and sustain it, no matter the cost. This was not the case when one Kuwaiti reporter by the name of Samir Salama, an associate editor in Gulf news wrote an article “Watch: Kuwaiti teenagers attack Egyptian woman”. Although at the time there was a lot of backlash from the article, the reporter stated that” the truth no matter how cold, will always prevail”. 

 

 

 

 

Bravery is not something a person can control, but is something a person has, in one way, shape or form. A reported can be brave by being honest, by being unbiased, by refusing a bribe and a reporter can also be brave by putting him or herself at risk in order to create a powerful story. One such journalist, is the Vice reporter Oscar Rickett, Oscar Rickett was behind “Going Undercover with Somalia’s Oil-Thirsty Pirates. He went undercover and wrote an article, He also filmed most of what he had encountered. Vice created a Film and released it along with his story, naming the Film “the pirate tapes’ is a film made with a low budget but very large balls”. 

The reason I find this definition so accurate is because it defines an accurate definition of a succesfull reported, this of course is my opinion, I think that reporters are truth tellers, they investigate, they expose and they communicate in order for the public to be sovereign.  

 

The silence was deafening, the darkness blinding, the bitter cold numbing and the unknown, but foretold fate, exhilarating. As my body slowly gave out, Feelings and thoughts, ambiguous, slowly crept into my heart and mind. An eternal and internal conflict. A conflict unrelenting and unforgiving. a choice to be made. To move forward, to achieve a long-desired dream and follow my heart or to finally give up and turn back after I have gotten so close. 

 

 I lay on the floor and quiet my mind, for with the enchantress of dreams I would be free of this suffering. The sounds of tranquil, my eyes enlightened, the sweet taste of success and a fate awaited, finally at reach. The enchantress had arrived and dream I did. 

 

My eyes were shut, and slowly was I fading back into life, for the momentary peace that I found dreaming, an end would soon arrive. A dream annexed by the stinging rivulet chill of water as it sheltered my body. Released from my sleep I had opened my eyes, the sun, the warmth, the energy, the ice melting around me, as if released from iron binds, my mind felt free and my body felt determined. 

Whilst living in the UAE, and witnessing how a successful business man or woman can grow by simple taking advantage of the right opportunities, its given me a new and profound respect for how fierce business is and has peaked my interest in it.  

Another topic I would really like to write about is politics, One of the main reasons I wanted to study journalism was to one day become an investigative journalist and to expose corruption in politics. 

(https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2018/10/malaysia-najib-speaks-181027062409739.html)

Confidence is a quality everyone should strive to acquire but especially for a journalist, it’s a massive strength. It instills sureness and clarity into the air as the journalist shows no sign of vulnerability yet does not come off as pretentious. It also feeds affirmation for the interviewee or reader that there is someone reliable holding the reigns of the news story. 

What comes to my mind when I envision a confident journalist is Mary Ann Jolley who interviewed former Prime Minister Najib Razak in what is now one of the most iconic Malaysian interviews of all time. Not only does Mary Ann not back down with the questions but she never comes off as condescending with the way she carries the interview. Her performance landed her an award with Al-Jazeera later that year as she was commended for her skill in conducting the interview.

 

(https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/world/asia/malaysia-child-marriage.html)

Following a moral compass never presents the easiest path but it definitely is the most just one. Journalists have an obligation to report the whole unbiased and unfiltered truth to their readers. In a time where misinformation and propaganda run rampant, journalists must take it upon themselves to never stray or strew away from the facts no matter what. 

Not long ago, Hannah Beech stirred the waters when she published an article criticising Malaysia for allowing a 11-year old girl be sold off into a child marriage like cattle to a 41-year-old man who happened to be her best friend’s father. The rage and backlash that followed compelled the Malaysian Government to eventually separate the child from her husband and return her back to her home country under social care in little over 3 weeks. Beech’s desire to speak against injustice while still reporting news shows how her strong sense of justice was a catalyst for change.

 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyl_xsdpteI)

Tenacity is a given in the field of journalism when chasing or reporting a story. Particularly when possible leads contain cover-ups or pose a risk to the journalist for exposure, the determination and persistence above it all to report the truth and nothing but the unbiased truth is what I think makes a good journalist. 

The recent Al-Jazeera documentary concerning Malaysia’s treatment of migrant workers caused a great deal of talk in the country with the government threatening to take action. But Al-Jazeera stood their ground and stated that they reported the ugly reality as how it really is in truth. Despite sustaining raids by Malaysian police and lawsuits, Al-Jazeera’s sheer will and determination to not keep silent despite the odds shows their commitment to the citizens’ trust first above any political or powerful affiliations. 

Besides the sports sub-section, the area of ‘National and World News’ stand out because it helps me grasp an understanding and keep up-to-date on the current happenings of the world around us. Similarly I find that the ‘Opinion / Analysis / Columnists’ and ‘Letters to the editor’ are a unique way of maintaining a relationship with the readers with inclusive and open conversations initiated.

 

This section aligns with my interests because I enjoy delving into cultures and trends, hence the ‘Entertainment’, ‘Culture’ and perhaps ‘Travel & Leisure’ sub-sections seem ideal areas that I’d love to write about at some point. I think it’s also a nice way to write without necessarily sticking to a strict-newsworthy report norm and more of general entertainment and interest.

Under my bed sits a shoe-box, caked with dust and years of neglect. With only misplaced coins and dust bunnies to keep company, I carefully wedge it away of abandonment. A slow smile creeps on my lips as the nostalgia washes over me. Packed inside were mementos of a childhood long gone. Photographs of a gap-toothed child smiling cheek-to-cheek. Paper mannequins neatly stuck on coloured cardboard. Chunky friendship bracelets. Glitter pens arranged in rainbow order. Several journals chronicling the horrors of pre-pubescence. Letters written to my future self. I sit back on my heels, reliving the memories that managed to awaken once again. Here I was, entering a time-warp of unearthed stories and emotions. 

 

The nostalgia was thick in the air, but it felt oh-so-bittersweet. Where had the time gone? A lump formed in my throat, and as the painful realisation dawned upon me that time was indeed fickle. I could never relive these care-free and easygoing moments again. With a sigh, I slowly replace the lid back on top, and close the chapter on a period long past its expiry.

The ability to work in a high-pressure environment should also be quite important. Some journalists had to deal with the added pressure of nonresponsive sources on top of tight writing deadlines when the pandemic began.  

I also believe journalists should be passionate about what they are doing. I think it is an important trait that ensures that the articles they write are well-researched and of a high standard. 

A great example is Bopha Phorn who is one of the very few female journalists in Cambodia, and is an editor for the Cambodia Daily. In 2012, Phorn and another journalist, Olesia Plokhii, took up their courage to investigate on the claims of illegal logging in a protected area of Cambodia when gunmen began shooting at their vehicle with AK-47s. What initially was an easy task became a life-risking moment as the women had to escape through the forest. Phorn continued receiving threats from high level authorities for her coverage in drug trades. Even in potential danger, it was Phorn’s love and determination for journalism that kept her going even if Cambodia is a dangerous place for journalists as authoritarianism and censorship are on the increase. In 2013, Bopha Phorn was honoured in the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) Courage in Journalism Award. 

I held your hand, the creases of our palms connecting, hoping to give you the comfort you were seeking for ever since your feet touched this piece of earth. The thousands of sorrys mutter under my breath, and the almost single tear cascading down from my very eyes. I can never understand what you’re going through, no matter the countless times I prayed I want to before my body shuts completely for slumber. 

Night skies laden with gleaming stars were supposed to be of wistful hopes and wishful dreams.  Jogging my memory, times were simpler- empty talks filling the air with your chortles of glee.  I am reminded of every thick and thin we have been through- that we have always managed to make it to the finish line together. But the race is never ending, and you’re getting tired. I can see that. 

My heart aches a little with each frown of yours in sight. 

“I’m just so sad.”

“I know and I’ll try my best to make it not for you.”

We also probably saw a ghost once. Someone thought it was a good idea to check out an abandoned building we had come across one day, so we slowly rode up to its windows to stare at the tattered furniture inside. It was only when a long figure streaked across the living room that we booked it and swore we would never go back. 

Like with most things, our little cycling club eventually drifted apart, with some members moving houses and some leaving the country altogether. As much as I’d like to go exploring on my bike again, it just isn’t the same when you’re not a child anymore. 

The memories of those days, however, remain close to my heart.