All Journalists Are “Scum” – But What About Marie Colvin?

As a result of the recent News Corporation phone hacking scandal, many people ask me why I want to study journalism. In fact one man even went as far as to say “And why would you want to become the scum of the earth?” I think the Murdoch tactics of news gathering have overshadowed the real reason why a lot of people want to be journalists.

Marie Colvin was a hugely influential war reporter who was tragically killed in a Homs shelling two days ago. On the Wednesday Ms Colvin was killed, 60 civilians across Syria also died as a result of the violence between government troops and freedom fighters.

Rosemarie Colvin described her daughter to the press as passionate about her work. She said: “Her legacy is: Be passionate and be involved in what you believe in.” 

“And do it as thoroughly and honestly and fearlessly as you can.”

Marie Colvin was not only a fantastic journalist but also an example of bravery in the battle for justice. It was claimed that Syrian forces said they would kill “any journalist who set foot on Syrian soil” yet she still travelled there and reported from the besieged city of Homs. Ms Colvin’s last dispatch was from Homs telling the story of a dying baby.

She said: “I watched a little baby die today - absolutely horrific, just a two-year-old been hit, they stripped it and found the shrapnel had gone into the left chest.

'The doctor just said "I can’t do anything". His little tummy just kept heaving until he died. That is happening over and over and over.”

The BBC's Fergal Keane said Ms Colvin was "defined by her humanity". She was the perfect example of a “real” journalist, courageous and determined to expose the truth. Perhaps this is proof that some of us are just trying to help others while doing our job. Marie Colvin was an inspiration to people across the globe and her legacy will live on through her war correspondence, with whom she described as the quietly brave citizens. 


Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104711/Marie-Colvin-Sunday-Times-reporter-leave-Syria-day-died-says-mother.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17134371
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17124786