From Alexandria, Egypt to Pocatello, Idaho
From Alexandria, Egypt to Pocatello, Idaho
February 21, 2010
I sit here at my desk in Pocatello, Idaho, wondering in amazement at the chain of events that have occurred in my life over the past two and a half months. It was with an unexpected email invitation from the International Center for Journalists that turned my world, if not upside down, perhaps right side up. And it was from that innocuous invitation that I would find myself in Alexandria, Egypt one week ago.
The trip was far from unbelievable. I have the memories, and photos to show I was there and I am currently dealing with a circadian rhythm based in the Mediterranean to explain why I’m writing this at 3 a.m. Pocatello time, or Noon Alexandria time.
The course reinforced a growing awareness of the changes we journalists need to take in how we work and manage our workload but it was the conference that brought home to me the potential in the world of journalists at large.
The conference represents so much more than a geographic place in time. It is so easy to become jaded and cynical in our profession, I know for a fact I’ve drunk from the cynic’s cup more then once but what I take with me from Alexandria is an experience and an awareness that there are people trying to make a difference in this world through the evolving tools that are changing the way we can do journalism.
I left Alexandria with the knowledge of a new community of working journalists, individuals, one and all, but like-minded in the pursuit of reporting as unambiguously, factually and ethically as possible. I look forward to working with one and all in future reporting pursuits.
Journalism isn’t changing. Journalism is still about reporting, still being skeptical enough to not rely on a single source and validating the information you uncover, but perhaps it is evolving in the age of blogging with the acceptance of the subjective reporter.
Finally, I’ve posted a collection of photos from the conference. I’ve set it up so you should be allowed to download the photos for free. If you have any problems let me know and I’ll try to resolve them. Here’s the link for the photos. There is a second gallery of photos from my time in Alexandria. I did set up a pricing catalog for those photos but if there is a photo you would like tell me which one and I’ll try to email it to you.
3antar
aliarabeo
Amanda Wilson
Ahmed Mukhtar
AroosaMasroor
beenaqayyum
billschaefer
Ethar El-Katatney
fransiscaromana
PeriscopeME
icfjstaff
joycebarnathan
lchumbley
SundusRasheed
rutheglash
serbiajournalist
Steve Strasser
tantushyan
tonybjr
vaqargilani
Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age 
Thanks for the marvelous pictures Bill 🙂
Mohammed, my pleasure to share them. I enjoyed meeting you and hope we can meet in the future. Bill
I am happy to have spent sometime at the conference and otherwise in your kind company . . . After reading this post, I believe that your words and images are both equally strong but you seem to spend more time with camera . . . The photographs show that your early morning trips to the shore really paid off and brought big smiles on yours and our faces. Would love to invite you over to Pakistan for a training of photojournalists covering terrorism and everyday life both. Remember, Pakistan is a huge country geographically and home to over 170 million people and all are not potential suicide bombers! I would sure show up in Pocatello this summer and only to see you and enjoy your interesting talk and see your great work. Thanks so much for sharing these photographs . . . Thanks ICFJ and UNAOC for inviting Bill in Iskandria . . . 🙂
Bill, how right you are in pointing out that journalism is not changing, it is about reporting facts, but with new tools, we can revolutionize the world of journalism, and for the better, I hope…………:) Maybe, as Naveed said, you should come to Pakistan, if nothing else just to see the country
and its rich and diverse culture, and while you are there, maybe we could take the opportunity to learn about photo-journalism from you!
PS: Loved the pictures!
“….It is so easy to become jaded and cynical in our profession, I know for a fact I’ve drunk from the cynic’s cup more then once but what I take with me from Alexandria is an experience and an awareness that there are people trying to make a difference in this world….” – Very well said Bill.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts & the pics – the shots from the conference were esp great!
Thanks for the gorgeous photos.
Bill, you really captured the spirit of the event. Many thanks, Steve
Bill, your photos and recollections are truly great. thanks!