As a freelance journalist, I am angered that Saudi Arabia was handed votes of clemency from the U.S.and Canada despite the fact that there is evidence that Saudi Arabia's higher powers were responsible for the murder and disposal of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Ever since I was in college working towards my diploma in Print Journalism, I have kept an eye on the Reporters Sans Frontieres website and my heart drops at the amount of journalists who die unjustly and in vain simply because the governments refuse to look at anything but the economic implications of making murderers stand accountable. TIME Magazine made the right decision to honor those lost in pursuit of truth-finding and sharing, but they also need to touch on the fact that governments could do so much more to assist and support those who suffer in sharing facts.
I have been engaged in Print Journalism since 2005, which was my senior year of high school, and there are many journalists who are in the craft because they want to share the truth with others who know it not, but not everyone wants the truth shared. Granted, there are some journalists who are in the media business to create stories that don't exist and are also rather intrusive in the way they do their jobs, but the paparazzos are a different breed from those who can call themselves true journalists. Whenever I am 'in the field', I make sure I conduct myself in such a manner that the people I am interviewing and/or photographing can trust me and I do my best to honor that trust through accurate reporting. The best way to honor the fallen journalists is to do the 'job' with integrity, passion, and love for the work that is journalism and continue doing it even if others choose to object with violence. The truth will not be silenced even when the messengers are.
