Where most hacks fear to tread…
New Europe previews the launch of a study in journalism on the edge.
By Andy Carling
Veteran Brussels journalist Martin Jay has enjoyed a dynamic career as a freelance journalist, which included setting up The Sprout, an irreverent and provocative look at political life in Brussels. In his new book Girls, Guns and Gonzo, he revisits his earlier career, in which he visited various dangerous locations worldwide, to land stories that were outside most hacks’ comfort zones, which has included hanging out with Somali militias, Rwandan refugees and East European gangsters.
A highly charged and edgy atmosphere that, as an old-time reporter, Jay successfully captures in words and pictures, using conventional 35mm film. The photos are often harsh and grainy, but capture superbly the urgency and adrenaline-charged mindset of a man who’s out to get his story, whatever it takes.
In his introduction, Martin Bell OBE describes Girls, Guns and Gonzo as being: “…not the sort of book that journalists write anymore, as modern reporters retreat into the fortified compounds and green zones abroad, and the fluff and froth of celebrity journalism at home”. As Bell asks, does the book “belong to a vanished age”, or is it part of a tradition of reportage that refuses to be crushed by accountants and Health & Safety officers in modern newsrooms? On the strength of Jay’s tome, the reader will likely remain convinced that independent journalism will stay alive, while sharing similar hopes for reporters.
Just how tough is it to get the story from war zones and failed states? This book answers that question, and it is being launched at Sterling Books, 38 Fossé aux Loups, Brussels on Wednesday, September 30 at 19h30.
All are welcome, but please leave your guns at the door…
October 2, 2009 | Posted by NE Admin
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