-
- Jordan’s Queen Rania visits survivors at Jordan Hospital, the day after the Nov. 9, 2005 suicide bombings in Amman.
-
- Nurse Bindu Ek comforts Baby Toleen at Jordan Hospital.
-
- Kareem is the youngest survivor of the Nov. 11, 2005 suicide attacks in Jordan.
-
- From surgeons to taxi cab drivers, Jordanians rallied together to try and save lives after the attacks.
-
- Faith leaders gathered outside Amman, joined by Christian and Muslim residents of two neighbouring towns, to oppose the terrorist attacks.
-
- Jennifer Perez, 23, became a quadriplegic after an alleged assault by her employer in Jordan.
WHY I AM A JOURNALIST
“It was like a battlefield.”
This was how ex-military nurse Nuha Kazimi described the chaos in the ER of Amman Surgical Hospital.
Less than two months into my first newspaper internship, I was assigned to cover my toughest assignment for the national English-language daily, The Jordan Times.
Shortly before 9 p.m., a team of suicide bombers launched coordinated attacks on three Amman hotels, including a wedding party of about 300 guests on Nov. 9, 2005. The attacks left 59 dead, more than 115 injured and a country in mourning.
This was Jordan’s 9/11.
Through this internship, I learned how journalism is a way of connecting with people, telling their stories and being a part of the history that is unfolding every day. This was what I kept in mind as I interviewed the survivors and their families.
Although the newspaper industry is currently under threat – with news of layoffs, lack of jobs and dwindling advertising and circulation – I am always encouraged to keep going by the lessons I learned during my stint in the Middle East.
My conviction about becoming a journalist was solidified after I met Jennifer Perez at an Amman hospital. She was a 23-year-old domestic worker who became paralyzed after an alleged dispute with her employer.
From Jennifer’s story, I learned about how one story can give a voice to those who do not have one. Although Jennifer’s case was dropped after she passed away upon her return home to the Philippines, it opened up a national dialogue in Jordan about domestic workers’ rights.
This experience is what keeps me in journalism, even during these uncertain times.
It’s the belief that positive change in our communities can come
one story at a time.
THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
It’s true. It’s a scary time to be a journalist.
But it can also be an exciting time of new opportunities.
The digital age has opened up new avenues of storytelling for journalists. We are being challenged to find creative ways of capturing the essence of a story and captivating an audience, not only through words, but also through pictures, sounds and animation.
Journalists are also presented with an opportunity to craft his or her own voice and find a niche within the field. With so much competition for scarce jobs, knowing who you are as a journalist and writing about what you know best will, I hope, help us in achieving our career goals.
I have an interest in religion and have written stories about different faith communities including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Before graduation, I was offered a full-time job as a reporter at The Catholic Register, a national Catholic newspaper in Canada.
Although I’m now concentrating on writing about the Catholic community, I’m also finding common threads from past reporting experiences: For instance, there are many layers to uncover in any story. And no matter how “unglamorous” a story might seem at first glance, there is always a gem waiting to be found if you keep digging.
In the end, every story, no matter how big or small, should have the stamp of your best efforts.
Although I graduated from J-school last year, I’ve never left behind the journalistic skills and values of objectivity and accuracy I’ve learned, including from internships at The Canadian Press, The Toronto Star and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The newsroom may be getting smaller, but the world of journalism and storytelling is now so much bigger than we could ever have imagined.
Instead of fearing the worst, let’s embrace the challenge.
