Seminar saves life (maybe); provides catharsis
Today during an online seminar I was leading, we may have saved a life.
We were meeting with about 30 Indian and Pakistani journalists as part of a Cross Border Reporting project sponsored by the East West Center and the Center for Global Peace Journalism at Park University. As we discussed on Zoom the trauma suffered by journalists who have the awful task of reporting about the Covid-19 crisis in India and Pakistan, this message appeared in the chat:
SOS… Just getting call-Please allow me to take this platform-all friends from India. One of our colleagues from media needs oxygen at CWG at Delhi…if possible to get for him please call me at 977#&%$#@*%
I didn’t notice this initially, since I was participating in the live discussion. Later, this message was called to my attention by the journalist who posted it as he reported that his friend and colleague not only got the oxygen he needed, but also a precious hospital bed thanks to the intervention of another journalist who was attending the seminar.
So while we don’t exactly know if we saved this man’s life by holding our seminar, we can feel good that we provided a conduit through which at least one Covid-19 victim found some relief.
As for rest of the discussion, lives may not have been saved, but the journalists present were able to take advantage of a platform to discuss the awful, traumatic burden of reporting the horror of Covid in India, starting with the fact that a reported 150 Indian journalists have died from the virus. We asked the journalists to share their observations in the chat and in the video discussion. Here are some of their comments:
--I just lost a colleague yesterday in Karachi.
--We are all going through a lot. Journalists are being hurt by loss of lives and way they’ve been treated by the government and society. ..Journalists won’t find a mention in the vaccination campaigns. The majority under 45 are still not vaccinated—99%. They are the ones going to cremation grounds, going to the hospitals, interviewing those who are sick. Emotionally and physically they are not protected. They suffer from PTSD; many don’t sleep or have nightmares…The last two days, I’ve seen two very good friends go.
--So many journalists are working with real difficult situations. The pandemic situation is really scary. The last 14 days I couldn’t move out of my house…There is absolutely no clear strategy plan or action by the government. I live in Delhi which is the center of tragedies and sad stories. Two of my colleagues and their families have Covid. A colleague of mine died today. Even though we say we are united, every country closes their borders. In vaccination, the world is not together, and the poor are suffering.
--In Pakistan we have lost journalists too. We are pushing the government to recognize journalists as front line workers. The government seems to be interested to do this but we are still waiting for the vaccination process to begin. We are very concerned about our journalists out in the field. Pakistan is sending all its prayers and positivity, and your pain (in India) is our pain.
--The situation is very grim here (in India). There is mismanagement of oxygen and life-saving drugs. The people suffering cannot be described in words. It’s unbelievable. Today one of the most prominent TV journalists lost their life. Reporters are doing a wonderful job despite the unprecedented challenges.
--It is quite disheartening too see that journalists are not respected or valued. When we are in need, there is no response at all. And still we are working to send info to public, despite the loss and risking our lives.
--All of us grappling with the mental health aspect of pandemic, and the fact that it’s all been so sudden…We are all going through tremendous anxiety…We have a lot of panic daily because we don’t know what lies ahead…When you deal with this day to day you become numb. It’s hard to deal with it and process it…and how you come out of it in a way that’s productive as a journalist so that you don’t cave in to these pressures.
--In Pakistan, we are not ready for this as well. We have fewer resources in Pakistan. Compared to India, we have many fewer (Covid) tests. The Pakistani government doesn’t have facilities. Our sympathies and support are with Indian journalists—whatever we can do we are there for them.
This segment of the seminar ended with my colleague Stephen Franklin sharing some mental health tips and resources with the journalists. (For more, see: https://www.journalistsforchange.org/data-reporting-tools-global )
As I told the Indian and Pakistani journalists, I deeply admire their bravery and commitment to their public, their profession, and their colleagues. They are truly an inspiration.
Editor’s note: In part II of my report on this seminar to be published next week, I’ll discuss the second half of the workshop which dealt with applying peace journalism principles to reporting about the pandemic.
