Reporters on the Job

Get all the Monitor's headlines by e-mail. Subscribe for free.

E-mail this story Write a letter to the Editor Printer-friendly version del.icio.us [ What is this? ] digg [ What is this? ]

In the last few days, following his death, Arafat's picture was everywhere again. "Ten years after my first visit to Ramallah, I saw the same photos, but this time it was to say, 'good bye,' " she says.

• Nonstop in Fallujah: Among the challenges for a journalist working in Fallujah is the sheer uncertainty of it all, says staff writer Scott Peterson, who is traveling with a marine armored company. The US troops are conducting operations 24-7. Keeping up with sleep is difficult enough for them. Add to that writing stories, editing and transmitting photos, and Scott has been on the 'no sleep program.' That means he's often putting his computer and satellite phone away at the moment the marines wake for another mission.

"I've got the rhythm down better, but there is always something that can come up on deadline," Scott says. Yesterday, he had one story in mind, then visited the food distribution mosque shortly before deadline, and decided to write that story ( see story).

Just as Scott was almost done editing, a series of mortars landed very near his position, forcing everyone into their flak vests, and Scott inside, away from his satellite phone. Adding to the confusion, the marines started smashing all the windows in the house they had occupied, to prevent flying shards in case a mortar hit its mark.

David Clark Scott
World editor

Cultural snapshot

		WINTERING IN HAMBURG: Swan keeper Olaf Niess collects the birds from the waterways around the German city. They swans are given quarters and fed until the spring. CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/REUTERS

Let us hear from you.

Mail to: One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115 via e-mail: World editor