Reporting in Danger Panel: Zimbabwe

A foreign correspondent talks about her battles to protect her sources in Zimbabwe. Many of those who are willing to tell their stories have lost everything else and survived "hideous" torture. They have nothing left to lose and all they have left is their "voices." They don't often understand what it means to put their voice or photograph out on TV or radio, and she uses her journalism judgment.

Zimbabwe's been in the midst of "silent genocide" for years now, she said. "We cover Zimbabwe when the violence peaks."

There's a real hunger for news in the country. Everyone has a cell phone and that's how the population gets its news. The government has started to squelch cell phone use by restricting text messaging, she said.

"I spend more time watching my rear view mirror than the road in front of me," she said about when the violence spikes and the government starts following her, sitting next to her in a coffee shop.

People tortured in the country are beaten on their feet so badly that they will never walk properly again. Others are beaten on their buttocks to the pelvic bone so they will never sit properly again. The message is clear because they return to their communities and everyone sees.

Reporting in Danger Panel

"Where is my vote?" became a rallying cry for freedom of speech, a separation of religion and state, in the Iranian election and popular uprising this summer, shared Iranian journalist Tara Mahtafar. Women and new media played critical roles in the protests, she explained.

She described the coverage as "an explosion of citizen journalism on online platforms," Mahtafar said despite the censoring and slow-speeds of the Internet. People would take dozens of photos and video clips on their cell phones, return home and upload their

All the rallies were organized online, she said. Journalism transformed from information dissemination to becoming a channel for shaping the next day's events. It was interacting. The motive for documenting the events was to show the world what was happening, Mahatafar said.

My only criticism, Mahtafar said, is that the story "died" while it's still going on. Many news outlets have dropped coverage.

Women played a vital role in the struggle. Women's roles in society in Iran have changed as a result.

"Divorce is through the roof," Mahtafar said. The number one reason cited in divorce proceedings is sexual impotence, she said. The number of children Iranian women are having has declined to an average of two.

Convergence

"We represent convergence," said former JAWS president Julia Kagan, because of our various fields of expertise, ages, race and interests.

JAWS has been at the forefront of computer-assisted reporting and multimedia, running trainings for its members and others rather than standing still in change.

Sept. 11 and International JAWS

Reflecting on how JAWS reacted to Sept. 11 and the impact of 9/11 on journalism. It changed how we needed to cover people worldwide "and cover them more respectfully," said NPR's Cheryl Hampton, a former JAWS president.

Edie Lederer transitions the conversation to the undercurrent of international issues at JAWS. Lederer talks about her reportage as a war correspondent at Vietnam and reportage by fellow JAWS member Tad Bartimus.

JAWS from the early years has had speakers focusing on international issues and women issues overseas, Lederer said. Kathy Bonk arranged video conferencing at some camps with voices telling stories from as far away as Beijing.

With us at this camp in Utah are women journalists from Mexico and the Phillipines.

Newsroom on notice

"It put the whole newsroom on notice," said Kay Mills of the women who filed suits against the New York Times, Associated Press and Washington Post to open up opportunities to women.

JAWdesses are reflecting on how they "stand on the shoulders" of these pioneering reporters and editors. I am still learning how I stand on the shoulders of such courage. It will be interesting 25 years from now to see how women pioneered through this time, of social media exploding and print outlets imploding. So many of the women here are keeping the truthtelling alive from Teresa Puente's blog sharing the voices of Latina women to Lynn Sweet blogging and tweeting on the Obamas.

We're in Snowbird!

And it's beautiful!
Yes, there's some snow, but there are also beautiful views from the top of the tram! The Snowbird folks offered us free rides to the top Friday, along with hot chocolate and other things we like (wine, beer)... The food is great and the camaraderie is wonderful as always...
We know you wish you were here, but we hope to keep you up-to-date with our liveblogging this weekend!