I have been heartened by the
news that NY Times reporter, David Rohde, and his interpreter and local Afghani journalist Tahir Ludin, escaped from Taliban captivity with their lives. I'm almost equally heartened by the story of how the NY Times kept the news of the pair's seven-month captivity quiet throughout that time, and somehow managed to persuade other media outlets to do the same.
After all, it's big news when any Westerner is abducted by the Taliban, nevermind a prominent NY Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize winner.
Controversy now reigns as to whether the NY Times and wider media community protected their own in a way they wouldn't have if it had been someone from another profession. Of course, this is a hypothetical and remains to be seen only if it happens.
There are doubtless numerous sensitive details of the abduction that we will never know. Be this as it may, I am heartened that NY Times chose to put the safety of these gentlemen over the story.
It gives the paper, and its quiet cohorts, credibility. They put the human being first. They have integrity.
After all, there was probably minimal benefit in the rest of the world knowing about the life-threatening position of these men, aside from feeding our Big Brother curiosity about the difficulties and drama in the lives of others, or warning us away from travel in Afghanistan. Which anyone with half a brain will know already.
The most recent
Edelman Trust Barometer found that throughout the world, we don't trust the media. As an example, there is a legitimate question about how much the media contributed to the recent downturn in the world economy, by perpetuating the bad news and prompting consumers to close their wallets. More on that later.
Clearly the media needs to polish its trust-credentials. This story gives me, at least, the faith that there are some human beings in the media fraternity that will not just go for the story, or the jugular, above all else. Well done NY Times.
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