Journalism and courage

Their deaths came a few days after we learned New York Times reporter Anthony Shadid died of an asthma attack, also in Syria. They were courageous. Brave in the actions they took and even braver in what they told the world about atrocities and injuries they witnessed firsthand.

They are worthy of headlines and deserving of tribute.

So are journalists of lesser name who put their lives on the line every day reporting from their own countries.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported this week that Indian journalist Chandrika Ra , his wife and two teenage children were bludgeoned to death in their home in Umaria in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Rai, 42, worked for Hindi-language dailies and was investigating illegal coal mining in Umaria.

The committee quoted Shalabh Bhadoria, president of a Madhya Pradesh press freedoms group, who said that Rai’s death could be connected to the kidnapping of a local official’s son. Rai apparently, had contradicted a government official’s claim that the two kidnapping suspects were not guilty.

The committee has asked for an investigation. Local journalists wore black arm bands this week in remembrance.

We hear of cases like Chandrika’s all too often. Journalists who go missing. Or are found decapitated.

They take enormous risks to tell the story. And unlike foreign journalists, local reporters do not have the luxury of “getting out” after they get the story. They must remain in their communities and be ready to suffer the consequences.

Kudos to my colleagues across the world who take such risks every day of their lives. They are committed and passionate about what they do. On this awful day of tragedy, I salute them all.

I second that thought.