Monday, May 11, 2009

Real Breaking News!

Finally, some good news.

American journalist Roxana Saberi is being released from prison today in Iran, and will soon be heading back to the United States with her parents.

Following 100 days in the infamous Evin prison, Roxana had her 8 year sentence reduced and suspended today by an appeals court.

While there are many questions that remain to be answered by the Iranian authorities for actions taken over the course of these past 100 days, I am glad that Roxana is free, and that she will again have the opportunity to live her life.

I hope that Roxana has not lost the remarkable qualities she had, and the hunger and curiosity she had for learning and reporting. Roxana is an exceptional person, and hopefully her time in solitary and on a 14 day hunger strike did not cause any long term damage to her mind, body, or her spirit.

A huge shout out to the fantastic students at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism who came up with the idea for organizing a hunger strike on Roxana’s behalf, so that she would not have to suffer; to Simon Marks with Feature Story News for his consistent and conscientious support for gaining Roxana’s freedom; and also to those US elected and appointed officials who helped to keep the pressure on Iran, and attention in the media, on behalf of Roxana.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

An Other 100 Days

My friend Simon Marks and I have written an item in support of imprisoned American journalist Roxana Saberi. Her appeal will now be heard on Sunday, May 10, in Tehran, with a decision announced within 48 hours. Monday marks the 100th day Roxana will have been held in the Evin prison. This is a marker that must be recognized, and not allowed to pass without mention. You are urged to do what you can to continue to bring attention to Roxana's case, to offer to fast on her behalf, or to contact the Grand Ayatolah Khameini to seek a reversal and immediate release for Roxana. Don't let Roxana become a memory. Read on.


It has been 100 days since American journalist Roxana Saberi was seized by the Iranian authorities and thrown into solitary confinement. Last month, after a one hour trial she was convicted of spying for the United States.

Over those same 100 days we have seen a slight unclenching of the fist gripped around Roxana’s neck, but even a firm grip can cripple, or kill. It can certainly kill the spirit, something Roxana once had in abundance, and something she can hopefully reclaim when her captors free her from the Kafkaesque nightmare that has been her daily existence since January 31st.

This Tuesday, in Tehran, Roxana’s case will be heard on appeal. While she is no longer on a hunger strike, she is weak, weary, and angered by the allegations that have imprisoned her and tarnished her reputation.

Roxana first came to our attention back in 2002. She was just starting out in broadcast journalism, working as a local television reporter in her hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.

An all-American girl, Roxana was a soccer star, an accomplished pianist, and - as has been noted - a 1997 finalist in the Miss American pageant, competing as Miss North Dakota. But when you met Roxana, you didn’t hear about any of this. What you heard were questions about work, about journalism, about reporting.

During a professional development program run by National Public Radio, she stated her goals: "Think less about my image, and more about the value of my story. Discuss issues with a variety of different people. Tell myself to be less self-involved".

Deciding she wanted to report from her father’s native Iran, Roxana applied for an Iranian passport and began to study Farsi.

In February 2003 she arrived in Tehran to open a small news bureau, and was soon fully-accredited by the Iranian government. Equipped with a small video camera and a laptop computer, Roxana quickly established herself as a formidable one-woman operation, sending back a stream of stories to networks here in the United States, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

She also used her time there to learn more about her family's culture, and about the complexities of both Persian and Iranian society. She regularly traveled within Iran, as well as extensively across the Middle East, in Europe, and annually returned home to spend time with her family in Fargo.

Roxana was the consummate news professional. She carefully negotiated the often-complex journalistic rules of the road in Iran. And the Iranian government knew exactly what she was doing. On the morning of June 25, 2005, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emerged from his home to celebrate victory in Iran's election, Roxana was there with her camera, literally inches from the smiling new President.

Roxana's dream job was first interrupted in June 2006, when her credentials were suddenly revoked by officials at the Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance, which oversees the activities of foreign journalists in Tehran. Less than a month later, Roxana was issued new press accreditation, permitting her to work as a freelancer for the BBC. A few weeks later that press card was also revoked. Again, the authorities furnished no explanation for the decision.

Though she had options, Roxana decided to stay in Tehran, beginning research for a book about life in Iran. She also continued to provide NPR and ABC Radio with occasional news reports. Iranian authorities were reportedly aware of that work, and yet they not once intimated any concern that she was at risk.

When she was suddenly arrested on January 31st, reportedly for purchasing wine, Roxana was denied her rights under Iranian law. Illegally held in solitary confinement, she was not allowed a hearing with counsel and denied access to anyone else. After ten days she was finally allowed to contact her family in Fargo. This brief call confirmed the worst fears of her parents, though they heeded Roxana’s advice to keep quiet. Roxanna maintained that this was a small matter, something that would be over in a few days, and not anything about which they should be concerned. But after 30 days, and no further contact from Roxana, they realized the gravity of the matter, and brought Roxana’s situation to the world.

Her sham trial occurred without warning. Whenever Roxana or her defense attorney attempted to speak, they were interrupted by prosecutors. Neither her parents - by then in Tehran - nor any independent observers were permitted in the courtroom. Within an hour, Roxana was convicted and sentenced to eight years in jail.

Roxana went on a hunger strike on April 21 to protest her treatment, conviction, and sentencing. Though she was buoyed by the support she has received from Northwestern University students, journalists, and hundreds of others around the world who had been fasting on her behalf. By the time she ended her fast, Roxana had lost over ten pounds from her 100 pound frame, and is still considered weak.

There have been loud calls for Roxana’s release, from capitals in Washington, London, and across the globe. Visiting diplomats, in Tehran, have urged the Iranian court to release Roxana.

Roxana’s case is a travesty of justice. Roxana Saberi is no threat to Iran, and is certainly not a spy. We urge the Iranian Justice Ministry to provide Roxana with her full rights to appeal her case, and insist that she be released from the Evin prison immediately. Transparency is the buzzword in Washington these days. It can still be applied in Tehran as well, with the release of Roxana Saberi from prison.

DC can be fun

well, it can be. at times. when it embraces itself. not that there's anything wrong with it.

Passport DC went off this weekend without a hitch, with a gap in the rain for a few hours, and with plenty of lines and smiling faces outside of a host of (mostly) European Embassies up and down Massachusetts Avenue (or Embassy Row, if you insist).

Crowds were comparable to last year, the tour busses seemed to move people along, and there was not one complaint heard about lines, security, or even the pre-sweltering DC heat.

Best line of the day was from the security guard at the Danish Embassy. Eyeing the one pound (or was it a kilo?) bag of peat provided by the British Embassy, the guard said the Embassy was weed-free today. What a punster. Security guards usually have all the best lines, right?

Still, doing something as boring as walking through an Embassy residence, or courtyard, or plaza, on a Saturday, along with thousands of your not bff's, is what DC is all about.

So embrace it. Take what you've got, as in lots of fancy buildings all around upper Northwest, open them up to the masses once a weekend every year, and, presto, instant hit, instant annual event, and fantastic PR for the Embassies, for international relations, and for opening up one of DC's secrets, the Embassy Tour.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Save Roxana Saberi

Join with thousands of others from across a range of communities, perspectives, and professions, to urge the Iranian authorities to release Roxana Saberi from prison.

Please take a moment to click on the link for Amnesty International and note your support for Roxana. Your support is needed even more now as she is in day 14 of a hunger strike, was forced to accept IV fluids in a prison hospital the other day, and is reportedly in a very weakened state.

Thank you.

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=12176

Friday, May 1, 2009

why people hate the media

CNN took only a few seconds today to document all that is wrong in the world of cable news.

Around 1:45pm this afternoon Don Lemon was interviewing a travel expert about issues related to travel, the swine flu (or H1S1 if you're so smart, or work in the 'other white meat' industry), and Joe Biden's expert medical advice.

While CNN has been just about wall to wall this week on the swine flu coverage, occasionally breaking away to document the 100 days of Obama, they hit a new low this afternoon during the 2-way on travel and disease.

Lemon was finishing up with the guest, who was imparting news you can use about the disease, about aviation cleanliness, and about travel bargains to Mexican resorts these days. But then Lemon abruptly cut off the guest to say they had an update on a story, and that they had to go.

Where did they go, to commercial. But not before Lemon teased an interview with, of all people, Larry King. And what were they to talk about, after the commercial, the sudden death of Vegas performer Danny Gans.

Who?

That's right, Danny Gans.

Who?

Enough with the paeon to Abbott and Costello, but after break CNN spend 3 minutes talking with King about Gans, and the other inanitities bouncing around King's skull, closing out after leaerning that Mrs. Larry King IV (whatever her name is) was scheduled to appear with Gans this weekend in Las Vegas. So King was not working tonight, not doing his show, but called in because his wife's gig was canceled due to the death of what passes for royalty in Vegas.

And CNN closed out a segment on swine flu and transportation issues to hear from King, and have him tease his show tonight (which he's still not hosting) that will feature a dated interview with the then living Danny Gans.

You can't make this shit up, unfortunately.

Perhaps there's an 'Airplane-esque' screenplay amidst all this media clutter. Perhaps. Anyone up for comedy writing about the news biz? Anyone?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

we're still out there

It's Day 100 for Obama. I'm sure you haven't missed that. Not with the saturation coverage on CNN, the top of the fold representation in lots of our papers, and of course the prime time press conference tonight (during sweeps, omigod) featuring, oh, what's his name, President Barack Obama.

I'm not sure what day it is for Roxana Saberi. I think it's day 90. That's the number of days she has been imprisoned in Tehran, basically for doing her job as an independent reporter.

News as of late has not been that good.

Roxana's 8 year sentence still stands. The three judge tribunal overseeing the appeals process for the Revolutionary Court still refuses to accept Roxana's expanded legal team, and has not provided them both access to Roxana, nor access to the court. So much for jurisprudence, let alone a fair trial.

While Iran watchers have known for years that there are several factions leading Iran, it is now ever more clear that neither the Grand Ayatollah Khameini nor President Ahmadinejad rule, and that an unusually independent and harsh judicial court renders justice as it sees fit.

This does not bode well for Roxana, even with today's overture from the British Foreign Minister, the publicity following Tuesday's protest in Paris, and her continued hunger strike.

Many stateside entities are doing all they can to free Roxana Saberi. Stay posted through media and sites like freeroxana.net. Simply put, do something, keep attention focused on this travesty of justice, and the life of this innocent woman.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

recession depression

Just back from some time on the road….a few days in New York managing a group of German journalists through programs and meetings, and then off to Vegas for a reunion for American journalists who have participated in the RIAS Berlin exchange program.....before jumping into the annual RTNDA@NAB convention.

At each stage of this short trip, there were clear and obvious signs of not only our economic recession, but great change within our media world.

In New York there were of course crowds, but not the dense crowds during Easter holidays of springs past. These crowds were from those school groups that hadn’t canceled their reservations, those Europeans who still find America, and even New York, to be a bargain shopping bonanza, and those who don’t seem to have to be at the office, so they might as well linger in bars and cafes longer than otherwise useful.

Hip east Village restaurants were surprisingly quiet. Wall Street bars had a late week buzz, though it might have been more the drink specials than the climate. Even opening day for two new NYC baseball stadiums had ticket scalping, but no surplus of tickets or excessive gouging.

Vegas is a whole other story. This city is in denial. Friends who live and work there, regardless of whether they arrived last year or thirty years back, each don’t understand why the rest of the country would deny a trip to sin city. Well, they don’t see it as sin city, regardless of personal behavior of manner, but they still fail to comprehend that people are cutting back, reducing discretionary spending, and not likely to hop on the next plane to drop real money at gaming tables or in laps for dances.

Staying at the Hilton for several days, I was at first literally overrun by children. In Las Vegas. In the lobby and ground level of the hotel. At times walking through the casino. And in what must have been a makeshift day care center in the adjacent room for my first night. Families with kids for some reason finished out the holiday week with a few days on the Strip. Dramatically reduced hotel rates might have been the real reason. But this is a different crowd than what is usually seen in Vegas. And getting there was no different. For the first time in my experience, there was not one line at the McCarren rental car counter. Not one. The shuttle bus was rather empty as well. Airport staff acknowledged that there has been less traffic this year, and even with a weekend arrival, there wasn’t the usual bustle and hustling that is standard for this city.

And as for the big event, the annual RTNDA@NAB convention, officially the NAB has indicated that there numbers were down 20% from last years 100,000 attendees, they are still listed in the Las Vegas convention center log as bringing in !40,000 media folks each year. So it’s down a far cry from previous years. While 80,000 is nothing to dismiss, they were not attended to as in the past. No grand parties. No lavish banquets. Nothing that would elicit a news piece from ABC’s Brian Ross, or a defensive response if asked by your boss what you were doing in Vegas.

Even more significant was the traffic at the RTNDA convention. There were fewer booths on their floor, fewer news directors at the workshops, and an even more obvious array of students eager to claim their first jobs in the business than in years before. Another thing missing was the mid-career reporter. In previous years there were dozens if not a hundred or two reporters, soon to be up on their contract, using the convention as an opportunity to showcase themselves for news directors and station groups. There may have been a dozen out there this time, and I think I met just about all of them by the end of the convention’s first day Monday.

I won’t go so far as to say it was depressing, though if this recession holds, and news groups and corporate news managers decide nothing was missed by not attending workshops and programs at this year’s convention, then getting these folks to attend next year will be even more difficult.
The news future is here already. We just haven’t begun to accept it. It’s more of less, it’s multimedia, and it’s no longer siloed. Now, to get the print, electronic, and online folks together for annual meetings and programs, that would be something worth attending.