Bearing witness to the life and work of the journalist who risked everything to report the truth, writes Salman El-Ramly

On February 22, 2012, Marie Colvin, an American journalist and war correspondent, was killed while reporting on the Syrian civil war in the city of Homs. Her death was a tragedy that sent shockwaves through the journalism community and beyond. 11 years have passed since that fateful day, but Colvin`s legacy as a brave and committed journalist continues to inspire and captivate.

Colvin was born in New York in 1956 and grew up in Long Island. She began her career in journalism in the early 1980s and quickly established herself as a tenacious and fearless reporter. Over the course of her career, she covered many conflicts and crises, from the civil war in Sri Lanka to the Arab Spring uprisings in Libya and Egypt. She was known for her ability to get to the heart of a story and bear witness to the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire of war.

Colvin`s reporting was characterized by her deep empathy for the people affected by conflict and war. She believed that journalism had a moral responsibility to give a voice to the voiceless and shine a light on the atrocities committed in war zones. She once said: "Our mission is to speak the truth to power. We send home that first rough draft of history. We can and do make a difference in exposing the horrors of war and especially the atrocities that befall civilians."

 In 2012, Colvin was reporting from Homs, a city that had been under siege by the Syrian army for weeks. Despite the danger, she remained committed to telling the story of the civilians trapped there. She filed a series of reports for The Sunday Times, describing the desperate conditions in which the people of Homs were living. She wrote about the bombardment of the city, the shortage of food and medicine, and the constant fear of death.

 On February 22, Colvin was killed in a rocket attack on the building where she was staying. Her colleague, French photojournalist Rémi Ochlik, was also killed in the attack. Colvin`s death was a devastating loss for the journalism community and all those who had been inspired by her work.

In the years since Colvin`s death, many journalists and media organizations have paid tribute to her legacy. The Marie Colvin Journalists` Network, for example, was established in 2016 to support female journalists working in conflict zones. The network provides training, mentoring, and resources to help women journalists develop the skills they need to report safely and effectively from dangerous areas.

 The Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, which was founded by Stony Brook University in New York, is another initiative that aims to carry on Colvin`s work. The center provides fellowships for journalists who want to report on under-covered issues or conflicts, particularly those that affect women and children.

 Colvin`s legacy is also evident in the many journalists who continue to risk their lives to report from war zones and other dangerous areas. Despite the risks, these reporters believe in the importance of bearing witness to the suffering of others and holding those in power accountable. They continue to follow in Colvin`s footsteps, determined to tell the abandoned stories that need to be told.

 In many ways, Colvin`s death was a wake-up call for the journalism community. It forced us to confront the risks that journalists face on a daily basis and consider how we can better protect them. It also reminded us of the vital role that journalism plays in holding those in power accountable and giving a voice to those who need to be heard.

Despite the attention that Colvin`s death brought to the dangers of reporting from conflict zones, the risks for journalists have only increased in recent years. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that at least 67 journalists were killed in 2022, an almost 50% increase from 2021, and many more were imprisoned or harassed for their reporting. This is a reminder that the work of journalists remains crucial, and that their safety and well-being must always be prioritized.

In the wake of Colvin`s death, her friends and colleagues spoke out about her courage and dedication to the truth. In an interview with NPR, journalist Lindsey Hilsum, who worked with Colvin in Sri Lanka, said: "She was fearless. She was someone who would always go the extra mile to get the story. And she would never give up." Colvin`s bravery and commitment serve as an inspiration to journalists around the world. Her legacy reminds us that journalism is not just a profession, but a calling. It`s a calling to bear witness to the suffering of others, to hold those in power accountable, and to give a voice to the voiceless.

As we remember Colvin, we should honor her memory by continuing her work. We must support journalists who are reporting from conflict zones and other dangerous areas, and we must demand that those in power respect the freedom of the press. We must also remember that the stories we tell as journalists have the power to shape the world around us. They can expose injustice, inspire change, and give hope to those who need it most.

In her final report from Homs, Colvin wrote: "The Syrian army is simply shelling a city of cold, starving civilians." These words are a reminder of the suffering that is all too common in the world we live in today. They are also a call to action, a call to continue the work that Colvin dedicated her life to.

Marie Colvin`s death was a tragic loss, but her legacy lives on. She was a journalist who believed in the power of the truth and was willing to risk everything to tell the stories that needed to be told. As we remember her, we should also remember the many journalists who continue to put their lives on the line every day in pursuit of the truth. We owe it to them, and to the millions of people around the world who are affected by conflict and crisis, to keep telling their stories.