Our hearts bleed for France
Last year South Africa ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for a journalist to work in.
I never really feared being a journalist.
I live with the notion that I am respected in my community. Not once has it occurred to me that when I set foot out of our office my life could be in danger.
Perhaps I should change my mindset.
Reading, watching and hearing all the reports about the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, France make my sense of fear about the job that I am doing jump a little.
I start remembering the many times my life in fact was in danger; like the time a municipal official threatened me over the phone. Did I respond to his threat? No.
Other times are the countless raids, protests and community uprisings I covered. I still remember a policeman telling me to get behind him so that he could protect me. I did not even thank him for putting his own life before mine.
In South Africa, fearing for our lives has become such an every day thing, no matter what job you do.
The website Committee to Protect Journalists gives a confirmed total of 61 journalists having been killed across the world in 2014, bringing the number of deaths among journalists to 1 109 since 1992.
Last year South Africa ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for a journalist to work in.
According to Forbes, being a newspaper reporter was the eighth most stressful job for 2014.
When I started my career as a journalist, the first thing I was told was that I have to do this job because I want to make a difference in my community, not for the money. If not for the passion, I am in it for the wrong reasons.
Now I tell interns knocking on our doors to think twice about becoming a journalist.
Like in any other job, doubt about what you are doing is always present, but knowing that my article could make even the slightest difference in one person’s life is well worth the doubt.
Today I raise my hand in support of my fallen French comrades.
I will honour them by always reporting the truth, by always putting my community’s interests first and by being the best journalist I can be.
We here at the news send our condolences to the victims’ families and pray that justice prevails for our fellow journalists.
You did not die in vain; your message will live on forever.
Related articles:
• As old as the Republic: France’s satirical press
• Eiffel Tower goes dark in tribute to Paris attack victims
• #JeSuisCharlie figures in more than 3.5 million tweets
• ‘I couldn’t save them’: Charlie Hebdo columnist describes aftermath
