From Afghanistan to Elon: Award Winning Guest Journalist Shares the Life and Times of a Foreign Correspondent
On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the award winning Irish-British journalist, Jane Ferguson, arrived at Elon in hopes to share her experiences as a foreign correspondent for PBS NewsHour.
During her time at Elon, Ferguson had a jam-packed schedule full of meet and greets, speaking to communications classes, a discussion with Elon News Network (ENN) and Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and more.
She told her story...which is an incredible one at that.
Her career took off at age 25, when she was hired by PBS NewsHour. Much of her assignments were based in the Arab world, South Asia, and Africa, so she took up a 13 year residency in the Middle East. Ferguson exposed herself to some dangerous situations in order to “get the story,” such as smuggling herself into Yemen where women do not experience the same freedoms as they do here in the United States.
Every time she began an assignment, her life was on the line. It is hard to imagine any career worth being in danger for, but for Ferguson, reporting important stories has the power to change the world.
For example, during the summer of 2018, Ferguson reported on a humanitarian crisis in Yemen that defined the importance of journalism in the world to her.
“I was the only reporter on this story,” she says. “The dangerous hunger crisis was heartbreaking, but it wouldn’t have been reported on if I wasn’t there. I was so overwhelmed with sadness at the devastating situation, but the people were so hospitable and welcoming to me. That was a moment that I will never forget and really makes what I do worth it.”
By reporting on a situation that might not have been covered otherwise, Ferguson changed the lives of thousands of people. She made people that are not starving on a daily basis aware of what was going on while also inspiring them to help in whatever ways that they can.
While Ferguson has had many unique experiences in Yemen, she has also made an impact on the Afghani community.
This August, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Ferguson was in the country. She had an interaction with the Taliban that she will never forget.
When Ferguson and her team heard that the Taliban might be coming into Kabul, they headed to an airport immediately. On the drive there, her car passed the Taliban heading into the capital.
“That was one of those moments where we all were like wow,” she said. “We are witnessing history.”
In 2020, Ferguson left the Middle East and moved to Manhattan, where she currently resides today.
Oftentimes the journalism industry gains the reputation that it is too hard to get a job and make it. Many potential journalists shy away from a lifelong career because of this. However, journalism is one of the most vast, yet powerful, career paths out there. Reports to the public about happy, devastating, funny, serious, and more stories change the world’s perception on life.
Journalism is a vital aspect of society, and the world would not be the same without it.