The same day that the kidnappers freed American freelancer Jill Carroll, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) named her the recipient of its prestigious Courage in Journalism Award.
Shortly after the news broke of Carroll’s release, the IWMF announced that she would receive the Courage in Journalism Award. The award honors women who show an exceptional commitment to journalistic integrity despite imminent danger. The foundation gives the award to three journalists each year, and Carroll is the first recipient of 2006. It includes a cash prize of US$5,000. The foundation will honor the recipients at two awards dinners: one in New York on October 24 and the second in Los Angeles on November 2. The honorees typically spend the time between the dinners traveling across the country, participating in receptions and panel discussions
Source: [Ijnet]
Such a nice gesture and so well deserved. In other development, the Monitor has put up a video of Jill addressing the staff at CSM headquarters in Boston. The video is very touching. I was thrilled to see that Jill is still her old self — a very animated and speedy talker. We love you Jill and can’t wait to see you. |
well said, yes, dm. we all need a reality check from time to time. thanks.
DM and Skye, thanks for the reality check.
Well said dm.
I’ll tell you what I’m sick of. I’m sick of everyone saying that Jill is one thing or another when they don’t even know her. I’ve heard a list of things that people claim she is. Here are some of them: An extreme liberal, and extreme conservative, “too Christian”, “not Christian enough”, a traitor, an Iraqi, an American-hater, and Islam-lover, an Israel-hater, a member of the CIA, not really a journalist (Jill was just kidding-pretending), a spy, someone who faked the whole kidnapping, she was never held hostage, she went to Iraq with the plan of faking her kidnapping to prove a point…and much, much more.
To those of you who have made these accusations–have you ever met her? Do you know her personally? Have you ever had a conversation with her? As far as being a liberal, has she ever said that? As far as being a conservative, has she ever said that either? I’ve read a lot of her writing and she never once expressed her personal views. I am not going to jump to any conclusions that she is a liberal, or a conservative–and as far as everything else I’ve heard, it makes me crazy to think that there are people (again, I remind you these people never met her or even had any conversations with her) who truly believe these things.
As I’ve stated many times in the past, I don’t know Jill. I have no idea what her political views are, nor is it anyone’s business. All I listen to is what she says with her writing, which does not reflect her personal views. It’s factual and objective as far as I’m concerned. She cares about the people of Iraq…okay, where’s the fault in that? I listen to people who actually KNOW her, true reliable sources. They say nothing but wonderful things. I’ve never heard anyone speak ill of her that actually KNOWS her or has met her. That is what I go by, the facts.
I am getting sick of this topic.
Let me clarify something. The phrase “I’m certainly no muslim” above should not be read as an indication that I have anything against muslims. I simply do not share their religious beliefs.
Aida, these are still speculations. Where is the proof? “It will all come out” can be used to “prove” just about anything. Could we at least hold off on the speculation until there is actually proof lest we accuse an innocent? Jill simply being a stringer for the CSM proves nothing.
And on what do you base your accusations that Jill is anti-Isreal, pro-Islam and anti-American? Jill considers herself Catholic, and she cooperated fully with U.S. officials and military personel after her release. Being sympathetic with common Iraqis who are victims of armed conflict does not make her an anti-semite or guilty of treason. I’m certainly no muslim, I despise terrorism, and I don’t hate my country, but I feel horrible about the Iraqis who are killed, kidnapped and tortured every day. Does that make me anti-Isreal, pro-Islam, and anti-American?
BTW, many people do actually read the CSM. Many scholars, government officials and people involved in international trade and affairs read it because it is considered to be a quality news source.
Too much speculation with absolutely nothing for support can hurt people unnecessarily. I’ve been THERE, done THAT.
Regarding Enwiyah’s I saw a report on CNN where Jill called his wife and his family in Amman and explained her sorrow and some feeling of guilt for his assasination, his family told her that they consider her one of them.
The situation in Iraq is very complicated and that leads to some conslusions which I find a bit crazy, like Jill being a CIA agent or the abdictors being angels…etc,
I still cannot recognize who can the abductors be? They are definitely not al-qaeda otherwise they would have killed her immediately because they believe that such acts would send them to heaven. I’m just wondering who is supporting those people?? They are a lot of people and they have lots of money…. where did they get it from?
Are they kidnapping people for money or what?
WM,
Good points, and yes, I think all the CSM reporters in Bahgdad are stringers or freelancers, true. But let’s get the straight: the Christian Science Monitor is one weird newspaper: it is owned by a Christian cult founded by Mary Baker Eddy, and even the editor praised Ms Eddy when announcing Jill’s release from captivity! What? Donations and subs? No way, WM! The Christian Science Church is very rich organization, and its newspaper, which is basically unread, except by journalists and editors around the world (no normal people read it daily, except online for free, for its very good news!) and the newspaper is the church’s way of doing PR of the public to say, see, we might be culty kooks with this Mary Baker Eddy thing, but we sure know how to put out a good newspaper, and you don’t have to be a cult member to be a reporter or editor. Although I think the current editor is a member of the church. Anyways, everyone knows that the CSM is a perfect cover for CIA or other agency spies to work for, and that is how it is used. Do the math. Why on Earth was Jill in Iraq? She was against the war, she was pro-Arab and anti-Israel, pro-Islam and anti-American progressive sweet girl next door with progressive ideas, and she got herself inserted into this mess, using the CSM as a cover. It will all come out. How do I know? Been there, done that. Watch!
Aida, the Christian Science Monitor operates EXCLUSIVELY on donations and subscriptions and DOES NOT solicit advertising revenue. It is cheaper to buy stories from freelancers than to maintain overseas staff reporters. That is why the CSM didn’t send staff reporters to Iraq and used freelancers like Jill Carroll. And Jill didn’t just write for the CSM. She also sold stories to Newsweek, MSNBC, and an Italian news agency.
And Jill Carroll was not the only one. Christina Asquith also freelanced for the CSM and had a similar approach to Jill. Was she a spy too? And what about Kelley Spinner? Was she also a spy?
Yes, I know journalists have worked as spies, but your support for this allegation is weak. This is purely speculation, and somewhat far-fetched in my opinion.