±«Óãtv

It is vital that those stories are told - and they are indeed the stories that we want to hear. So why are we seeing stories like on the ±«Óãtv News website?

We're fighting wars in two countries (and have been for almost longer than WWII). The 100th British soldier has just been killed in Afghanistan. I'd like to see the ±«Óãtv, as a public service broadcaster, using its resources to tell us exactly what is going on out there. Not providing a blow-by-blow account of routine developments in a TV game show.

Big Brother may be popular, but does that really make its minutiae, such as weekly eviction nominations or contestant tasks, newsworthy? Those who are interested in such things can visit the BB website to keep up. For the rest of us, those are neither a significant developments, nor something that affects a large number of people, nor something quirky or unusual.

In other words, they have no news value - unlike the stories described here. Would you run a story saying how many vowels a contestant has just chosen in an episode of Countdown? I sincerely hope not...

I would just add that the journalists involved "paid the ultimate price", because thats what they did. Didn't they?

Journalists seeking the truth and reporting without fear should be given the highest honours. These journalists who lost their lives sacrificed so much in order to tell the world what is really taking place in these dangerous places. They are a special breed determined to educate and inform irrespective of the danger they subjected themselves to. They are driven by the courage of their conviction.

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I can't say how terribly sad this makes me feel. It is devastating. Yet, as a journalist, I have nothing but reverence for these two men who died in the pursuit of the dissemination of truth. It makes me sick to think that this pursuit comes at such a high price but it is so important. My heart goes out to their friends and families.

Respect to all journalists who subject themselves to danger in their quest to shed light on world events.

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Death is terrible. I feel bad and express my sympathy to families of these guys. I have bitter words for ±«Óãtv. I don’t feel like freelancer reporters in high risk conflict zones is right thing to do. Sure, ±«Óãtv and other agencies get their "Breaking news" with "real facts" but. . . Most reporters "behind enemy" taking huge risk because they are driven by passion to their cause. It makes me respect them a lot but I cannot see their reports as unbiased. Little or no sources exist to verify these reports and one person view becomes "official" ±«Óãtv version. I prefer routine reports for 5 different guys safely imbedded with military units. Less "breaking news" but more accountability.

A terrible tragedy. So sad for their loved ones and another depressing loss for ±«Óãtv colleagues.

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All respect to these brave guys and condolences to their families.

Despite western media acting as a conduit for the 'militants' message, they are still killing you. Despite the western media acting as the most (only?) effective weapon the 'insurgents' have, they are still killing you.

There is no gratitude from some people.

I know you would say that reporters are not there to take sides. But do you never wonder if these people are just a bit too naughty to be neutral about?

Oh! may the souls of those journalists rest in peace. My father was brutally murdered by Charles Taylor's Militias in Liberia like those journalists. Three Bible-holding Catholic Nuns were murdered in cold blood by Charles Taylor's forces like those good journalists. And Six Senegalese Peacekeepers were butchered by Charles Taylor's forces just like those good journalists. It couldn't bring home those excruciating sorrows anymore.

Now is the time for the UN and the entire international community to put their mighty acts together to apprehend and prosecute those monsters who heartlessly continues to shatter these innocent souls.

My deepest condolences. It's awful when people lose their lives in the pursuit of the truth.

My prayers go to their families

It is very sad to hear of the two ±«Óãtv Journalists that lost their lives, but as long as there is a need for breaking news they will not be the last in this dangerous world we live in today.

I can really empathise with the families of those two Journalists as my father too was a ±«Óãtv Journalist who lost his life almost 30yrs ago now

So my Prayers and thoughts are with those families now.

Sad, sad events. No man should precede his children into the void. What are these men and women dying for? Is it to free Afghanistan from the Taliban? Is it to further America's pathetic and lost war on drugs? Is it to line the pockets of some special interest group? Who benefits from these deaths?
Afghanistan has been a quagmire for outsiders for centuries. Why should it change now? If the death is a precursor to freedom surely there have been enough by now?

00.01AM on 10 June 2008, KennethM: Wrote an excellent point and i want to further it....i want to send my symapthies and condolences to the 2 families....

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