News About A UK Blogger Tracing Arms Trafficking In Syria
By Artemeis
@artemeis (4189)
China
April 1, 2013 4:23am CST
I feel rather mixed up reading this news about a certain UK blogger who after loosing his job is undertaking serious journalism, working on tracing arms trafficking activities in Syria.
I do not have anything against it if it is being reported at where the activity is happening but from the comfort of his home's armchair is NOT journalism to me. Basically, his references are actually an accumulation of Youtube video feeds which I am sure none of us could validate or could be substantiated to be true. However, it is amazing that organizations like Human Rights Watch and New York Times can actually consider his blog to be reporting and reference material.
I am sorry to be a skeptic here but short of on the ground gathering of hard facts I cannot deem any of his accounts could be taken seriously.
Would you?
Reference:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/29/world/europe/syria-weapons-blogger/index.html
4 responses
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 13
This is rather sad. You can't really take people seriously online anymore. With technology such as it is people can do just about anything and make it look rather legit. Some of it is rather scary as to just how realistic it comes off as being. And I think that the legitimate journalists in this company pay the price. No, I may not take these seriously. I don't know. I haven't seen them. I wouldn't jump to conclusions either. I have my opinions and that is it.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
2 Apr 13
Despite all the manipulations, there are still ways to validate and I hope that the people involved including this armchair blogger would realize this to remember that there's no shortcut to diligence when verifying.
Elliot Higgins's work is admirable but any weapons expert or enthusiasts would be equally capable but I believe the concern here goes way above this.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Apr 13
These 'armchair bloggers' have more time than many of us to verify their information. And we are not experts how can we cast negative opinions on someone else. If the concern goes above his admirable work then let the experts do it.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
2 Apr 13
This would not be happening if we had real journalist. People who went out and found the news and reported the facts instead of giving us their opinion and slant on the news. it seems that today when a reporter is handed some information if they agree with it it is fact if they disagree then it is not news and no need to report it.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
2 Apr 13
Even real journalists have known to manipulate facts and it takes an ill knowledge editor to slip up to protract it. Like the Robert Cappa episode and similar, we really need to be careful with what we read.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912110,00.html
I do not want to withhold credit where it is due but in this world of deceit, we need to be very careful and sitting in the comfort of our home's armchair would not help one single bit.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
1 Apr 13
The guy has clearly done his research and knows a great deal about weaponry. There are also many videos posted on YouTube (which is where he is getting most of his information from).
I suggest that you read his blog: http://brown-moses.blogspot.co.uk/ as well as just the CNN article. He does NOT consider himself to be a journalist. He claims to be a researcher who is producing information which he hopes that journalists may want to use.
It is often amateur researchers like this who have developed the knowledge and have the time to sniff out small details which go to make up a body of evidence which prove something very important. Such people become respected by established organisations only because their research is a sound, meticulous and honest presentation of the facts.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
2 Apr 13
I must admit that I do respect this person's noble efforts to trace the arms used by militias and rebel forces. But, I am sure we are no strangers to material manipulations photos and videos included. I know that he is meticulous and careful but aside from being on the ground we will never be able to determine the exact origins or avoid known manipulations.
I am sure you do recall the episodes of Robert Capa Civil War photo, 2006 Lebanon War or war photos that got Piers Morgan fired. All these just reminds us to be careful with what we are knowing, as you can see his works is already being used by Human Rights Watch and NY Times. Until, it is checked out I hope it would not be used to bring certain elements into some war crime hearings or meetings to vote for military action.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
1 Apr 13
I haven't really made up my mind on this. If her is submitting what he has to the relevant authorities and let them follow up then he is being a good citizen showing concern. However, he is not a journalist in the strictest sense of the world. The videos wold need to be validated before any conclusion could be drawn too
