I once heard of a TV journalist who kept the names and addresses of his Syrian sources in a little black book, and all the video he shot of activists, complete with faces, on an open hard drive. He was detained by the secret police in Damascus, which was scary for him, but worse for his contacts. In his easily accessible files he had neatly identified, catalogued and given phone numbers for a … [Read more...] about Public until proven otherwise
Journalism
Revisiting Syria
I'm revisiting Syria. But only in this blog post. I made that trip in April, six months ago. I wouldn't be able to do it today. Blog post one (26th April 2013) Blog post two (28th April 2013) Blog post three (29th April 2013) Blog post four (30th April 2013) Blog post five (1st May 2013) There's really no more crossing the borders into northern Syria for foreign journalists or aid workers these … [Read more...] about Revisiting Syria
Archiving Digital Audio
I'm not much for editing audio. Those that know me and my workflow will see that for the last few years I have mainly used the classic Audioboo app. Recording straight into my phone with a standard mic windshield over one end. I subscribe to my own Audioboo podcast feed in iTunes to grab the mp3 to my hard drive and also use IFTTT to auto copy the mp3 from my feed into dropbox. This ensures my … [Read more...] about Archiving Digital Audio
Refuge in a Coffee Shop
While documenting trucks of aid passing through the border into Syria we get a call and permission had been granted to visit Killis Camp. This kind of access is rare so instead of heading straight into Syria we travelled back a few hundred yards to the camps front gates. We are guided in and told to stick together. Me and Phil feel safe enough and duck away from the observers to explore for … [Read more...] about Refuge in a Coffee Shop
War Games
The service taxi - a kind of small minibus used throughout Syria in place of public transport - was not being driven in a way its designers intended. The dirt road through Aleppo provence in northern Syria was, itself, dangerous enough for me to look at my white knuckles on the back of the driver's seat and let out a barely stifled scream. I had already trusted the driver with my life while … [Read more...] about War Games