Reporter Admits Gaps in Afghan Coverage
This, from Graeme Smith, Globe & Mail reporter, during a speech to the United States military this week about what reporters are missing:
“A key blind spot is that we have no idea what ordinary Afghans want.”Good to know for judging mainstream media coverage - a little bit more here.
posted by milnews.ca at 7:31 a.m.
7 Comments:
Well that says a lot about the integrity of all their previous stories.
Why stop at Afghanistan ?
Why not just come clean and admit they know little to nothing on most topics they write about.
It will be good for their journalistic souls.
Can you say A400 ?
Funny that Smith should say that, as I remember he gave a talk where he said words to the effect that Afghans wanted to be 'left alone' to abuse their women, be patriarchal and shoot each other.
A weird outburst of modesty on his part.
As a former reporter myself, I have to think Smith and all the others are doing their best. It was refreshing, though, to hear someone from the profession saying, "yeah, we're not perfect, and this is where we should do better" out loud, and to a military audience.
Monterey Herald story here. On Mr Smith:
'...
Smith, who was on assignment in Afghanistan from 2006 until this year, said the best the Canadians can expect to do is the least amount of harm.
He described his role at the session as "more like a court jester" than a lecturer, but warned the troops that their presence will mean an escalation of violence and a proportionate increase in civilian deaths.
Soldiers will find their ability to act limited, Smith said, but offered "a few suggestions to make your presence in Afghanistan less damaging."..'
Hah hah.
Mark
Ottawa
Just to be clear: What I told the conference, and several other forums recently, is that 'we' (i.e. the international community) have no idea what Afghans want, especially in rural areas. I also acknowledged the terrible shortcomings of the media in southern Afghanistan, and added that they're mostly caused by a lack of security. I can't independently visit the same parts of Kandahar that I did in 2005, 2006, and 2007 because I would get kidnapped or killed. The situation is obviously growing worse.
Graeme: Thank you for commenting. As for the situation getting worse you might look at these posts:
"Canadians, Americans and Kandahar city"
"Canadians kill Taliban mortar team/What we achieved at Kandahar" (esp. last part)
As for the way ahead:
"COMISAF COIN GUIDANCE"
'Afstan: The right commander for the job gives "Guidance"'
We can agree, I think, that the Canadian government has been less forthright than it should be. Compare with the American military now, much more able to speak freely than ours (or the British).
Any views on Gen. McChrystal's approach and whether it might be effective, if the troops (all countries) are able to carry it out?
Mark
Ottawa
Sorry, poorly phrased about the British. Their military comment more freely than ours, e.g.:
"Stretched armies"
One does wonder why now it is a reporter with "Stars and Stripes" in the field with the CF (embedded admittedly) rather than a Canadian--see second link at previous comment.
Mark
Ottawa
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