Female Journalists Honored at Kalb Report

The International Women's Media Foundation in association with the George Washington University Global Media Institute and the National Press Club honored four women on Monday with the 2009 Courage in Journalism Awards.

The recipients included Jila Baniyaghoob of Iran, Iryna Kahlip of Belarus, Agnes Taile of Camaroon and Amira Hass of Israel.

After presenting the women with the awards, journalist Marvin Kalb led a conversation with the awardees.

Baniyaghoob was recently released from prison after reporting on the controversial presidential election in 2009, which some Iranian citizens didnt support. Riots broke out and Baniyaghoob didnt censor her reporting and the government felt she posed a threat. Khalip has been clubbed and dragged by her hair, has been interrogated by police, had her computer and worknotes seized and is under constant surveillance by the government in Belarus.

While working as a reporter for Sweet FM, Taile was abducted from her home at knife point by three men and was beaten and left to die in a ravine.

Hass is an Israeli reporter who writes critically about Israeli and Palestine government officials. She lives in Ramallah and is the only reporter from her country who lives in the community she reports from. Kalb discussed how the internet influenced reporting to how the women felt American journalist could improve upon their skills.

"The internet pressures journalist to produce immediate news without first checking. Sometimes it makes you a slave," Hass said in response to a question about the internet's effects.

Taile discussed how the new generation is using the internet but explained that in Camaroon the culture of reading is not present and that television and radio are most prevalent. All four of the women felt that American journalists should take more risks in seeking truth and should increase their coverage of countries like Israel, Camaroon and Belarus.

The women were humorous in their responses about how they would be received when they returned home.

"There is a criminal code when you speak against the government. When I get back, I dont know if there will be a red carpet or handcuffs," Khalip replied.

When asked when they planned to stop reporting, all four women said they would do it for years to come.

"In Camaroon, women journalist do not cover dangerous things, they don't go on the ground," Taile said. "As long as they do that, what they are doing is pretty pointless. The issue is not a gender thing but to be a true journalist."

Baniyaghoob was unable to attend the event, as she was recently released from prison. Khalip and Taile were joined by interpreters.