The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia Presents -- Journalism on the Ground: The Risks and Importance of International Reporting

Presented on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at The Philadelphia Inquirer

International reporting is fraught with dangers, challenges, and risks. Journalists who pack up and head to all corners of the world in pursuit of providing media consumers with accurate accounts of what’s occurring on the ground often put their lives on the line for “the story.” In the past several weeks, the world has looked on as two journalists have lost their lives at the hands of ISIS. Others are still held as prisoners by ISIS. And elsewhere around the world, journalists are detained and face numerous risks to their health and well-being. Two such journalists—Jason Rezaian, the Tehran correspondent for The Washington Post, and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, the Tehran correspondent for The National—who were to speak for the Council for this event, were detained on July 22nd in Iran. The Council is hopeful for the release and safe passage home of Rezaian and Salehi. To speak about the dangers that international journalists, such as Rezaian and Salehi, face, the Council welcomed Robert Mahoney, Deputy Director at the Committee to Protect Journalists; Gabe Escobar, Managing Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer; and Doug Jehl, Foreign Editor, The Washington Post.