In the early part of High School, I wanted to be a journalist. In recent years, I have been particularly pleased I did not choose that career path. My journalist friends have all been reinventing themselves due to the decline in the mainstream media. Public Relations and internal corporate communication roles do not seem as glamorous as international correspondent work.
Peter Greste, who was imprisoned in Cairo in 2013 has written a memoir with a darker reflection on attacks on the media than merely declining newspaper circulation.
The eponymous “First Casualty” is not truth, as it was in the original quote. Rather it is journalism itself. Greste reflects on experiences with intimidation and violence when he was working in war zones in Somalia and Afghanistan. He identifies an alarming and increasing tendency for regimes around the world to attack and intimidate journalists.
The chilling experiences of Greste and his colleagues unfortunately serve as a warning to journalists. If they even travel to these zones, they are targets for governments, oppositions and pressure groups. The risk is higher if the journalists ask too many questions or report unfavourably on anyone in power. Their lives and their liberty is at risk at higher rates than ever before.
Greste reveals some of his inner fear and turmoil in the book but I was initially surprised by how dispassionate he appeared to be about truly harrowing experiences. It is only on reflection that I wonder whether this was deliberate. Perhaps Greste has carefully crafted the book to draw public attention to attacks on the media without wanting to discourage reporters from continuing in their efforts.
The Last Casualty is unsurprisingly beautifully written, engaging and concerning in equal measure. It is enough to make me want to go and subscribe to all of the best news outlets.
