Journalists suffer risks, hostility worldwide, including Mississippi

Carol Forsloff - A journalist held in an Iranian prison, two captured  and accused of
spying in Korea, and media folk killed and threatened in Mexico show
hostility against journalists.  But Mississippi in 2010?



If it were the 1960's, a story about hostility towards the press might
be viewed from the prism of civil rights.  This wasn't civil rights,
however; it was simply a visit to a Wendy's restaurant in Mississippi in
the summer of 2010.


In the context of doing a series of stories on the oil spill along the
Gulf Coast, Green Heritage News visited a Wendy's restaurant in
Mississippi to order a salad and bowl of chili before continuing on
through to Florida.


The salad and chili consumed, a discussion ensued about good and bad
food, those items likely to cause weight gain and the healthier choices
on the Wendy's menu.  To accent an idea to follow later, Green Heritage
News took a picture of the "baconater" to use as illustration on the
topic of healthy vs unhealthy choices in eating as part of an article on
obesity.


"What are you doing?" a tall, angry-faced man declared from behind the counter.


"Taking a picture of the baconater," GHN responded.


"Who are you anyway and why are you taking that picture?"demanded the man, with fists at both sides.


"A journalist doing a story on food, and that is an interesting picture,"GHN said


"Well, you can't be taking pictures here.  This is private property, and
we don't allow pictures," the voice had escalated, the man looking like
he would any minute fly over the counter and grab that camera, pouch
and all.


"Anything to worry over with that picture?  It's just a sandwich," came the quiet, firm voice, with a smile.


"You just can't do it.  I won't allow it.  I'm the manager here.  It's
against store policy."  And with that he strode off toward the kitchen.


The picture was already taken, and is here with this story, as
illustration for the suspicions, distrust and targeting of journalists
all over the world.


In Iran Roxanne Saberi , an American journalist, was accused of being a spy when she was simply on a personal visit.


Two journalists,
Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, crossed over from South to North
Korea, accidentally and were imprisoned and accused of espionage also.
It took the intervention of former President Bill Clinton for them to be
freed.


In Mexico journalists are targeted for kidnapping, killing and serious reprisals if they don't follow the demands of drug lords and print only what they are told.


In this case, the mission at Wendy's was the same as a trip to a
war-torn country or an incidental story one finds on the path to
another.  In this case it was simply to write an article on healthy
foods, to include different types of choices at Wendy's.


The journalist was met with suspicion, the baconater incidental to the
rest of the story, leaving one to wonder what is there to hide about
that sandwich.


Here's the picture of the baconater, the biggest sandwich target for pictures and for expansion of waistlines as well.