Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2013)
street roots 7 Jan. 4, 2013 PEARL, fro m page 1 complexity of the world, so I entered journalism and I found that the profession is making it more and more simplistic. So I thought that doesn’t work, and I decided that I would do it. I mean, I have very tough standards for myself. I am not going to get into the whole exhibitionist thing, I’m going to do what I feel is right. I just think journalism is a super important part of our society. I have already lost a lot to journalism and given a lot to journalism. | “When confronted with seemingly endless headlines about everything that’s going on In the world, most of us take It all In on automatic pilot, struggling to resist the claws of helplessness — that feeling that makes the heart crack open the same way droughts split the thirsty earth. Those cracks In our hearts are where fear settles, distorting our S.Y.: Do you think journalism is moving away from concentrating on hum an welfare or are journalists moving toward it? M.P.: The impression is that journalists themselves have got to move away from the industry. There is a divorce here between the business of journalism and the journalist. I think there are tons of individuals that are really committed. There is no lack of people with individual values, but they can t find a home in the newspapers or the industry as it is today, so I think the industry is suffering. With things like social media we are going to have to find new models on which to express our relationships with the world and our work. We haven’t found it yet, but I think that there is a divorce there and there is no home. I’m nostalgic for something that I have not even known. I would have loved to have a home, a journalism home with a tough editor that everybody loves, that will push me and we will fight. I would have loved that. I see that in movies and I’m like ‘Oh my God, I would have loved that.’ But I think it was for the generation before me. But I don’t think that is going to be the model anymore. I think we are going to have to find other ways and move on, but the perception of the world and our relationships with others. That fear allows the values that are essential to our Integrity — justice and dignity, empathy and price— to remain hostage to am Pearl ( L ) s o n o f murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, reacts with his mother Mariane T i1 Preside^ t Barack Obama signed the Freedom o f Press Act in the Oval Office of the White House m Washington, May 17, 2010. transition is difficult. S.Y.: Since your last book “A Mighty H eart” yo u ’ve written a book about people who have inspired you. What is it about and why do they inspire you? M.P.: I have become very interested in women so I decided to write a book about women. When I started traveling I saw how much women carry the burden of the world in a quiet unrecognized way and how, as a result, they were incredible agents of change: how much they knew; how much wisdom they had, how much courage, how much empathy. Women, I thought, were a sure way to invest my energy because I have seen it, it has nothing to do with which continent, which culture; it is the same incredible effort being repeated over and over again. I thought that this was something which would help the efforts of women worldwide. S.Y.: Can you tell me a bit more about the media work you wish to see in places such as Africa? M.P.: Finally, we are out of the era where you send correspondents to go and spend two days in Africa and cover Africa. Now we are going to have generations emerge from empty rhetoric. But that’s not the world. Not necessarily. And the women In this book will prove it.” - From the introduction of “In Search of Hope — The Global Diaries of Mariane Pearl ” Africa, from Asia, and people are finally going to have their own voice, so I’m part of that movement to help. I’m so happy to be a part of that with Thomson Reuters (Mariane is involved in leading African training programs through the Thomson Reuters Foundation). It is the first time in history that it’s really going to happen. www.street-papers.org/INSP. Street Roots is a member o f the International Network of Street Papers. K£SI Where senior and disabled adults receive the care and respect they deserve. Call us fo r m o re in fo rm a tio n (503)223-2144 1337 S.W. Washington, Portland, OR 97205 www.tafthome.org acr a rr 'W? J S IW a J C rJ c k i K r i arar a r a r a r* a a JoLJLJD JEi H A GOOD ( i t
