The Work Of Laura Ling And Euna Lee

@PaisleyPajamas: exactly- thanks Paisley Pj's! btw- your board is upside down- "don't do this if you want to be taken seriously"

@PaisleyPajamas: Very true. South Africans probably wouldn't have worked for this particular project... however, if they were pretty they might have been nice additions to the Dear Leader's harem... or possibly English teachers to their spies - that would be kind of hilarious actually... (not for the South Africans) - a bunch of North Korean spies running around with THOSE accents...

chiquitabanana

@Inescapeable Picnic: help it's freaking me out

Former Super Pregnant Intern!

You cross the North Korean border illegally, get caught, and get 12 years hard labor ... You know damn well what they were thinking when they were crossing that border, "Oh we're American journalists what could happen?" Screw them - bite the bullet and we'll see you in 12.

GiovanniGautham

@chiquitabanana: "...we wouldn't care so much if it was a couple of South Africans."

I'm guessing the North Koreans would have also cared less and perhaps not arrested them in the "gray zone," or whatever the eff.

@bittergreen: Haha. I like that. You're all about essentials, which is fitting for this new American Economy of pared-down essentials.

@ChanRasit: *DING!*

@Andalucía: Like her sister, she makes the story much more about her experience as a reporter on the job than any actual breaking, in-depth, world-changing story. I believe this is Edward R. Murrow's rule numero uno under the header, "Don't do this if you want to be taken seriously."

Freakin' ironic, is what this ordeal is.

@ChanRasit: uh no - the only reason they are getting this much attention is because they have been kidnapped by a government which is threatening to start a freaking nuclear war and using them as bargaining chips. It helps that they're American - I'll give you that - we wouldn't care so much if it was a couple of South Africans.

chiquitabanana

@meechybee: I'm more inclined to think this enormous amount of attention has been garnered because of Laura's sis being Lisa Ling -- which I seriously doubt is helping the cause of the two incarcerated journalists from a political standpoint.

The fact of the matter is journalists get arrested and convicted all the time, all over the world - and even here in the US. See Diane Bukowski in Detroit. I feel for these two women, but the only reason they're getting this level of attention is because of Lisa Ling.

@pony_express: armadillo?

@bittergreen: Ass.

@meechybee: What male reporters have been kidnapped that haven't been discussed with regards to their families? Honestly. Your accusation seems baseless.

Andalucía

Where is Current's official statement on all of this? What are they doing to ensure the safe return of their reporters? Have I missed this somewhere? Very disappointed in Current right now.

MaxAgron

@Flippyjack: I, too, have been watching Current online since the beginning. How is Ling a shitty journalist?

Andalucía

@meechybee: Just to clarify -- I think foreign reporters are some of the most amazing, underrated professionals. It's an incredibly dangerous job and I don't doubt their professionalism or ability to meet the demands of their job one bit.

But all I hear on the subject is the "what about their children?" angle. As if male reporters don't have families, or spouses or loved ones.

They're being used as pawns by North Korea, plain and simple. I just can't decide if the US media is helping fuel the flames or not. Any resolution should come from the State Department, not public opinion.

[cpj.org]

I have Laura Logan chained up in my bedroom. Who wants to make a deal?

Silverbackne

@Lulupasternak: To avoid pissing off the NK government further and dooming their colleagues?

Silverbackne

@robotwaste: That's a stunt, not news.

Lulupasternak

If all these Current employees are such fire-breathing young hotshots, why are they too scared to go on the record with the New York Times?

Lulupasternak

Laura Ling isn't nearly as pretty as that Persian woman who was jailed in Iran. So what is everyone so up in arms about?

bittergreen

Great stuff. These guys are doing nose-to-the-grindstone field work that isn't pompous, emotional, I'm In A Rainforest With Sanja Gupta Type Shit (even though that's enjoyable too, but in an entirely different way). Approve.

@meechybee: Yeah, like no one cared when Daniel Pearl was abducted.

pumpkinsoup

I enjoy Current. Infomania is great, and months ago, one of their journalists underwent water-boarding for the sake of news. It was a great piece. He also covered a red-neck gun show that was brilliant due to the fact he got to use a flame-thrower. Anytime you can get a reporter to spray fire = fantastic journalism.

I watched something on Current last night for the first time, and it was really good. (It was a "VC2" mini-documentary about two kids who faced down homophobia and bullying in their high schools in western Pa.) If "Mother Jones" had a cable channel, it might look something like Current.

lawyergay

@meechybee: No. I would be content to let male reporters rot in a North Korean jail. I mean, we might be embroiled in a major diplomatic fracas with North Korea, but eeeeeew, penises!

In 1979, two EDS employees were taken hostage by the Iranian government. Perot directed a successful rescue mission composed of EDS employees and led by retired Green Beret Colonel Arthur "Bull" Simons. Perot himself went to Iran and entered the prison where his men were held.

Why can't Al Gore do this?

Lulupasternak

That's an interesting idea. Couldn't Glenn Beck and a few others chivalrously offer to trade themselves to the North Koreans for Lee and Ling's freedom? Shout if you think this is a good idea.

SultanaEleusis

I'm a fan of Current, been watching since it launched- as always- well edited, Ling has a great voice.
I'm sorry she's in prison, she's clearly not fit for it.
She is a shitty journalist, but Current has filed some really important pieces, with lots of Radiohead mixed in.
If she was a journalist from a far right media source this would all be different somehow.

Would anyone care if the reporters were men?

@gobblegirl: I don't think anyone is belittling her, but why did Current send her out there? Besides speaking Korean, thus saving the cost of hiring a translator. Current uses people like cannon fodder (Canon? fodder?)

Lulupasternak

Can we just talk about the baby aardvark?

pony_express

@Inescapeable Picnic: I thought the same thing.

@Mymoustache: Friended!

i'm a bottle

Thanks for showing these.

Editing is an extremely important job in video journalism, and it is a part of the journalistic trade. Let's not belittle Ms Lee's job. (Though that'd undoubtedly an unfortunate screengrab, and would be hilarious in different circumstances).

Who rides the bike after pantless red belt?!?

Mymoustache

@i'm a bottle: It's like she did a report on my extended family!

Mymoustache

I love how pragmatic the natives are. The guy whose wife left him because he "was making fun of her privates" wants to marry Laura Ling. Then she shakes his hand and accepts then marries another guy. Then the women all go around and beat up the men.

Great video.

i'm a bottle

That's one funky autoplay mashup. I'm going to add some Jay-Z.