Home from Iraq

How many other American journalists, perhaps not as secure in their position as I, have thought to do a story and decided that it’s too close to the bone, too questioning of the American government or its actions? How many times was the risk that our own government might come in and rifle through our apartment, our homes or take us away for questioning in front of our children a factor in our decision not to do a story? How many times did we as journalists decide not to do a story because we thought it might get us into trouble? —Molly Bingham —Home from Iraq  (Courier Journal)

This is an extension to the point raised by Time‘s exposure of the Hawaiian Good Luck Sign. It’s possible to be a good journalist without revealing everything that you know. A reporter’s obligation to tell the truth without bias conflicts with the right to privacy of sexual assault victims. Journalists also regularly protect the names of minors.

It’s troubling enough when an American news reporter wants to refers to US forces as “us”. What happens when the American forces become “them”?