Foreign Reporting More Important Now than Ever

ATHENS—Foreign reporting is more essential now than it has ever been, said journalist Hannah Allam at the 30^th Annual Ralph McGill Lecture.

"The world is more connected and interconnected than ever," said Allam.

According to Allam, it is important for people to know what is going on before they act and “there is no better educator than the press.” She said that it is also important for people to look at places that are on the receiving end of U.S. foreign policy.

Allam said that with the presidential election fast-approaching now is the time for more eyes to be on the world, not less. She said that foreign reporting is crucial because our next president will determine how the U.S. will get “untangled” from Iraq.

According to Allam, foreign reporters serve equally as watchdogs and interpreters.

Although now it is common knowledge that the United States invaded Iraq based on false information, it was not in 2003. Allam said that this is why it is important to have foreign correspondents to report what is really going on and keep an eye on the executive branch of government.

Allam said that without the watchdog function of foreign reporting, we would not know everything we currently know about the Iraq war. Foreign correspondents are able to write with more authority because they are there, she said.

She also said in her speech that while it is important to tell the tough stories, it is important to tell the “rosy” stories as well. She said that it is important to report that violence in Iraq has decreased in the past year, but reporters should also keep in mind that what we are seeing are fragile gains that could be undone.

Allam also said that journalists’ role as an interpreter is also important. Journalists help provide a bridge to help American readers understand the world beyond their borders and put the actions of people in other cultures into context.

Allam said that with newspapers all over the country cutting budgets, not every organization can afford to send reporters overseas. However, she said that it is important that we keep enough out there so that we do not have to rely on the Associated Press.

Although newspapers are suffering financially, Allam said that technology is making it cheaper to cover the world. She said that foreign reporters are “scrimping” to keep their expenses low.

Allam also talked about how the presence of big news organizations in Iraq affected her reporting.

Allam said that because she was not with a major organization, she was often not invited to meetings and other events like other reporters were. However, Allam stated that this was not always a disadvantage.

“When you’re not at the big table you have to go find scraps elsewhere,” said Allam.

Allam also noted that the presence of big news organizations increased the competition and led to better journalism.

According to Allam, despite the competition all of the journalists formed a camaraderie and looked out for each other in dangerous situations.

Allam concluded her speech by offering advice to students in the audience. She told them that they are entering a job market that is as bad as she has seen it and warned them that people would try to discourage them from entering the journalism field.

She also told them to be resourceful in networking, learn another language, and to focus on their writing.

Finally, she told them to pay attention to what is going on in the world around them because they are the watchdogs of the future.