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October 6, 2008
Posted: 1608 GMT
Over the past weeks of preparation and rehearsal for the launch of a new show — BackStory – on CNN International, our correspondents have sent in some fine pieces of work. Sara Sidner’s coverage of the recent flooding in India was outstanding – and tough on her and the crew, both physically and mentally (although of course no one is making comparisons between their challenges and those faced by flood victims.) Days traveling in flood ravaged areas, bearing witness to bloated bodies, suffering on a staggering scale, and all the while having to actually do your job and file reports can take its toll. Fortunately, Sara’s team chronicled their journey for BackStory – giving us what will be the backbone of the program – the stuff you don’t normally get to see. Sara also gives us an insight into the personal impact – and frustrations – of watching such a tragedy unfold. I have felt similar frustrations in my career – in the West Bank, in Iraq, and perhaps most notably in Rwanda in 1994, where we bore witness to a genocide and felt the frustration (anger, actually) that grew from the world’s inaction. Arwa Damon has been covering the war in Iraq from the beginning. I’ve worked with her there on many, many occasions. She’s a good mate, but also a terrific reporter and one of the bravest people I know. Back in early 2004 I was in a two-car CNN convoy that was ambushed just south of Baghdad, which cost the lives of two friends and colleagues and wounded a third. It was around that time that what the military calls “unilateral” travel (i.e. traveling independent of the military) became nigh on impossible for safety reasons. Arwa’s report today documents her team’s journey to Taji, north of Baghdad. To the casual viewer, it’s just a road trip outside of the capital. What makes it extraordinary is it was a journey made “unilaterally” – a real milestone event for a western TV crew. For Arwa, producer Mohammad, cameraman Sarmad and the rest of the team, it was the first time literally in years that they’d been able to drive out of the capital to cover a story without military protection. From her report, you’ll get a sense of the emotion of that trip – emotion ranging from nervousness to amazement she’s even doing it. We hope to see a lot more of Arwa and Sara on BackStory. Watch BackStory on CNN International Monday to Friday 2000-2030 GMT (1600-1630 EST) Posted by: CNN Anchor, Michael Holmes |
 
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