Conclusion

In conclusion I can take from my research into the subject that their are various dangers that face modern journalists in the 21st century but it is fair to say that most of these dangers are self inflicted. In all most all circumstances the journalists that face danger put themselves in these "front line" reporting situation in which the element of danger is what makes the story popular or interesting to the target audience. The real issue is whether the stories that are being reported are worth putting yourself in danger for; whether the stories that are being reported are sensationalist stories that aren't worth the danger that they entail or if they are genuinely information based pieces that have substance and importance, things that need to be reported rather than things that are being reported in a sensationalist manner.

The two journalists that I have included in my research provide perfect examples as they both has conflicting styles and reasons for reporting. James Foley throughout his career has reported in areas of conflict and war putting himself on the "front line" to report on stories that arguably could effect the wider population; issues such as war. This type of journalism arguably it is necessary to put yourself in harms way covering important issues that are at the forefront of the public eye and interest. In comparison to the other journalist that I have featured, Louis Theroux, who tends to report in arguably a more sensationalist manner. Theroux reports on issues will not necessary have any impact at all on the wider public. Theroux's most famous documentary on the Westboro Baptist Church is a prime example of this as it covers a very small in comparison issue that will only effect a niche part of the population rather than being a story of greater importance that will effect the wider population like the reporting of James Foley. In no way does this make Theroux a lesser respected professional as the weird, small and unheard of issues are his angle, his unique selling point. Theroux never claims to report on "mainstream" issues or issues considered important within the public eye.

Undoubtedly both of these journalists have put themselves at significant danger and risk for what they are passionate about whether that be "front line" journalism reporting from a war zone or "front line" journalism reporting from a small extremist church in the US. Both decide to put themselves in this danger and that is the main point of analysis that can be taken from this; It is not whether the public believe that these journalists should put themselves in these types of danger but whether the journalists themselves consider the danger to be worthwhile and necessary. The dangers that face modern journalists in the 21st century are determined by the journalists themselves and what path of reporting they individually decide to take.

Reputation

Journalists face many dangers that aren't necessarily life threatening. These dangers potentially could have an adverse effect on their reputation as journalists or the public perception of them as a whole. Dangers like this tend to be brought on from risks that journalists take to really get an in depth, ground breaking story. Most dangers to journalists you could argue are self inflicted as they put themselves in these positions to become the best.

Louis Theroux



I am focusing this post surrounding dangers to reputation around Louis Theroux. Theroux is a BBC journalist who has built his reputation over the years reporting on sub cultures that are considered 'weird' or 'strange', in these documentaries Theroux attempts to submerge himself within the sub culture to get a raw and true feel of why these people live the way that they do and how they live the way that they do. In doing such in-depth reporting Theroux has put his reputation on the line a number of times in order to make an interesting and unique documentary. As you can see from the image below Theroux is no stranger to 'real' danger either.

 

Weird Weekends 1998 - 2000

"Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends" was Theroux's first television documentary series aired on the BBC; it ran over 3 series and was considered a success. There are a number of episodes within the series that Theroux puts his reputation at risk to involve himself more within the chosen American sub culture of the episode. The most notable risk to his reputation is within the third episode of the first series in 1998 entitled 'porn' in which Theroux looks at the porn industry and how both males and females that work in the industry are affected. In this episode he decides to give a fully nude image of himself to a porn agency in order to see if he was a male pornstar if he would get work. Needless to say that this could have potentially had a lot of adverse effects on his reputation if the image was released to the public, potentially career damaging results may have come of this. Theroux did this to this effect throughout the series making it one of the most in-depth, hilarious and entertaining documentaries of its time, Theroux appeared to be willing to potentially risk his career in order become a successful journalist; a tactic that seems to have worked.



 

 

 

 

 

 

James Foley

American Journalist James Foley disappeared on November 22nd 2012 in the North West of Syria near the Turkish border. Foley was working for U.S based online news website GlobalPost at the time of his disappearance. A video of the beheading of James Foley was later post to YouTube on the 19th of August; the killing is thought to have been carried out by the terrorist organisation ISIS.

James Foley whist working for GlobalPost

Foley was abducted whilst reporting on the Syrian Civil War in 2012, this was the abduction that finally lead to his death in 2014. Foley was no stranger to front line journalism and danger; he had previously been detained in Libya by pro-Gaddafi forces he was released safely 44 days after his detainment although being subject to multiple beatings and a witness to a fellow journalist (Anton Hammerl) being killed whist he was held. Foley then returned home, in an interview he stated "You go through different emotions when you're in captivity... These weird extreme ideas of where you are based on this capture. You don't want to be defined as that guy who got captured in 2011. I believe front line journalism is important [without it] we can't tell the world how bad it might be."

Foley's view towards frontline journalism shows how passionate he was about it, I don't believe that James Foley would have been suited to any other form of journalism apart from this front line, facing danger head on style of journalism. This style of Journalism undoubtedly gives the rawest view of current events and is the most dangerous style of reporting; James Foley is one name on a growing list of front line journalists that have lost their lives whilst reporting, the question is, it is really worth the risk?

Visit http://freejamesfoley.org/ to remember the bravery of James and find out information about the new formed James W. Foley Legacy Fund. 

James Foley 2011

 

Introduction

It’s fair to say journalism has changed greatly over time and in the 21st century more journalists are putting themselves at risk to acquire a story. Some put their lives at risk and some only their reputations, this blog will look towards outlining the dangers that face journalists, some of the most extreme risks that journalists have taken and the grave consequences of some of these risks.


Ross Kemp meets Palestinian soldiers.

Louis Theroux meets the Westboro Baptist Church



ISIS Militants kill an american journalist