JOURNALISM ON THE FRONT LINE - A VERY DANGEROUS BUSINESS

My last column ended with the following words:

And let us also be truly thankful for all of the journalists and camera crews who are taking their lives in their hands too in order that we might receive proper reports of what is going on, and then able to respond nationally and internationally.

I cannot emphasise enough the bravery of the journalists, reporters and camera crews.


Two days later, in the early hours of this Friday morning, these words stand truer than ever. It is not always understood or appreciated by the viewer that the journalists and their camera crew are under tremendous pressure from the local population who rightly see them as a window onto the outside world, and with it the chance perhaps for freedom? It takes courage to report from any ongoing incident whether it be here at home dealing with a problem in the street or standing outside the cordoned off house where the bodies of a parent and children have been found, or from the front line in Afghanistan with our troops, or in Libya surrounded by street to street fighting, the local population either both involved in that fighting and its older and younger generations trying to find safety.

Around the world, well nigh for a Century, the BBC has been viewed with detestation by many a foreigner who has been brought to account for daring to report matters that a country's own broadcasting company dare not for fear of losing their lives.

And the reports we receive are at tremendous personal sacrifice. In any conflict situation, the first lesson taught is the need to keep calm, to retain measured thinking and analysis and then to have that ability to report even the most horrendous situations in a manner that enables us at home to fully understand what is going on and then to respond appropriately. And that response will be stiffening resolve, which in itself helps government to make the right decisions, to sort itself out where it is temporarily going off the rails, and boost the confidence of those charged with the task of rescuing people, both British and foreign nationals.

It is very easy to criticize the Government's handling of this current situation; and there is justification for that, as evidenced by the Prime Minister's public apology yesterday morning. Nevertheless, the PM will be chairing the National Security Council later this morning and a smaller inner Council Meeting as well. Very clear lessons are being learned and the PM has made it clear, as too has the Defence Secretary - that we have to be fully prepared for when this type of thing arises in the future. And arise, it will! Let there be no doubt about that.

A Ship of the Line lies at anchor not far from where I am now looking out. She came into port quietly yesterday and preparations are underway. Another ship of the line, HMS Cumberland, is now taking passengers to Malta and will return to Benghazi, and there are fevered unspecified operations underway to rescue the Oil Workers trapped inland at the refineries. This operation is huge and complex. It requires the clearest thinking. It will involve our special forces.

We, the general public, must allow the people tasked to do this work, to do so without besetting them with endless criticism. Let us not be like the "know alls" on the football terraces who shout what they think the managers or captains should be doing! If they were heeded, we wouldn't see them for dust!! Having said that, it is right and proper that the Shadow Foreign Secretary raise concerns. This is good government. It is how our Parliamentary system should operate.

When I was in Beaconsfield in 2002 I was talking to an elderly client about her wartime service as a rigger on Spitfires. She then mentioned that she was later transferred 'because of my voice' to the Ops Room. This lady explained how unnerving it was, to talk in a calm, measured and reassuring tone to the crews returning from raids - but with a difference. Many of these crews were flying to certain death because they had no way of landing safely; but this lady, as a young woman no older than the crews, had to talk to these young men. I shall never forget the look she gave me as she described it - "harrowing, very harrowing Mr Marshall. Mine was the last voice they heard."

As a police officer I had been taught the same. My police inspector explained, "It does not matter what is happening out there, you just make sure you remain cool, calm and collected. Lives depend on it!"

I never cease to think of these two illustrations when I watch the news reports. All of us need to know what is going on and it is the bravery and, at times, sheer bloody-mindedness of the journalists, reporters and camera crews who enable this to happen.

To all of these men and women, I say, thank you. Genuinely.

Ian Bradley Marshall
LIVERPOOL
25 February 2011