2014-03-25     The story of Ida B. Wells  - and Kevin Lau

Ida Wells died in Chicago on this day in 1931. If anyone should be canonised as a patron saint of journalists, especially investigative journalists, she is the one. Read Wikipedia's  "Ida B. Wells" for an inspiring story of courage and perseverance. See especially the section on investigative journalism.

The story of Ida Wells is a good one for today's journalists to read, since all over the world journalists and editors are constantly attacked for speaking the truth about powerful people who do wrong. In the Philippines about 160 journalists have been killed in the line of duty since 1988. At one stage last year in the Philippines, five journalists were shot dead in five weeks.

I can't remember a journalist being killed in Hong Kong, but the attacks on Kevin Lau and on two people associated with a proposed new Hong Kong newspaper have been a chilling reminder of the danger Hong Kong journalists and editors face as their freedom to report is confronted by the vested interests of powerful people on the Mainland and in Hong Kong.

Two quotes from Ida Wells for today's anniversary: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them” and "The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press."

p.s. Kevin: this will speed up the recovery of your legs: www.doctorjesus.org

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c.f. Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice  (YouTube)