I would prefer to be a freelance writer and write about the things I like rather than be under the control of a boss. What is more, I really cannot imagine myself like a reporter, who goes out and gets the stories. I would fit more as a magazine editor, because I am good at making stories shine in a new way. That does not mean that I will not meet people and create my own articles; I just want to have the option to choose who these people will be. I do not mind interacting with people from all walks of lives: from ordinary people to celebrities and experts, depending on the topic I am writing about. However, most of the time I would prefer to stay in my well-equipped chaotic office, filled with books, newspapers, magazines and expensive paintings on the wall. There I will be with my own thoughts, as working with other people at the same room could damage my concentration and inspiration.
I want to work in the entertainment sphere, because there is too much seriousness in the world, which I cannot fix, but maybe make sure that people have fun despite this. Meanwhile, I could have another profession, either being a tutor at university or a motivational speaker in Mindvalley or TED. I have the ability to motivate, explain things simply and clearly and it makes me feel happy when I help others find their own path to success.
II. In which type of journalist do I fit? Using Matt Thompson’s Four Types of Journalists, I would say that I belong to two categories: The Provocateur and The Storyteller. It usually happens to me to discover something new in what is already known, or to present it in an innovative way, to refresh what the public thinks of it. I do not aim at finding scoops, but looking at something through a different angle. I like to take my time and examine things carefully before publishing something. The same thing applies to when I tell others’ stories. I get really inspired when I have intellectual discussions with various individuals, but then I need to be on my own to produce a masterpiece. I believe that the more people you meet, the more chances you have to find an extraordinary talent in them and expose it to your audience, when given the consent to do so. Read more about as which types of journalists I define myself with and another journalist who inspires me- Karbovski, HERE.
Wednesday is quite colourful regarding headlines about the heated saga U.S.-Iran. Express has the bravery to declare “World War 3“, after Iran took part in defensive drills across the country on the same day US President Donald Trump imposed though sanctions on the country. It features top 10 safest countries if WW3 breaks out.
The Jerusalem Post covers similar topic, highlighting that according to a new report from the US Department of Defence, Iranian forces in Syria may present a threat to the US.
VOA statеs that Tehran should eventually withdraw all Iran-commanded forces from Syria. Ambassador James Jeffrey said that Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that President Donald Trump pulled America out of in May had a bad effect on Iran’s behavior that “accelerated its activities.”
Iran enjoys influence in several countries in the region where it backs well-armed militias that are deployed in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. Speaking about Iran’s future in Syria, Jeffrey said: “Iranians are part of the problem not part of the solution.”
Jeffrey said the Trump administration is now focusing on putting financial pressure on Iran and “secondly contesting more actively Iran’s activities particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.”
Reuters informs us about how ordinary Iranians vent anger at the corruption of a privileged few as economic pressure rise. The targets are the rich and powerful, including clerics, diplomats, officials and their families.
In another article the focus is on China’s unwillingness to sell jetliners to Iran, because Iran is no longer “on the table”. Zhao Yuerang, general manager of manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), told Reuters: “No, we cannot sell to Iran. Iran is off the table.”
South Korea, on the other hand, wants to keep its relations with Iran despite the US sanctions on Tehran and both countries have agreed to switch to national currencies in trade exchange, RT reports. The countries also agreed to make payments and settle their financial and banking accounts using the South Korean national currency, the won. That will allow South Korean and Iranian companies to continue their extensive exchanges in various fields.
Both RT and Zero Hedge report on the Belgium-based financial messaging service, SWIFT, announcing the suspension of several Iranian banks from its service, shortly after Trump reimposed nuclear sanctions on Tehran on November 5. SWIFT’s decision has further undermined EU efforts to maintain trade with Iran and save an international deal with Tehran to curtail its nuclear program. Being cut off from SWIFT makes it difficult for Iran to get paid for exports and to pay for imports, mostly of oil.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned SWIFT it could be penalized if it doesn’t cut off financial services to entities and individuals doing business with Iran. However, by complying with Washington, SWIFT now faces the threat of punitive action from Brussels.
Mehr News Agency ‘s article is based on the words of French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who described the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as “the financial instrument of Europe’s independence”. He also argued that the SPV will add significantly to making the euroas powerful as the dollar, a task that he said should also be implemented by deepening the Eurozone’s capital markets and creating a single budget.
The focus on Tuesday is separated between three categories:
Oil prices and exemptions
European’s “clearing house”
The unwillingness of Erdogan to abide by the US sanctions
NDTV focuses on President Trump defending his decision to give temporary waivers to eight countries, saying it was done to keep oil global prices down, so that there is not a shock in the world market.
MarketWatch claims that oil declined Tuesday, sending U.S crude futures down for a seventh consecutive session- the longest losing streak in nearly 20 months. It also talks about Trump and his will to “go a little bit slower” when it comes to sanctions on Iranian oil because he doesn’t walk to drive up oil prices. JMMC officials monitor implementation of crude output agreement that began on Jan. 1, 2017 between members and nonmembers. West Texas Intermediate Crude for December fell 1.4%, to settle at $62.21 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. January Brent crude fell 1.4%, to $72.13 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.
CBC highlights the fact that although the fresh round of sanctions the U.S. imposed on Iran Monday threatens to close off all channels of international banking to the regime, it is unlikely to affect Canadian businesses.
Giving eight countries waivers to continue to buy oil from Iran may be a strategy to give those partners time to develop new sources of oil, or just not to upset the stability in the international oil markets, according to Ian Lee, an expert in international trade and associate professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business in Ottawa.
The Guardian explains in detail about the European ‘clearing house’, which will allow European companies trading with Iran to bypass newly imposed US sanctions. It will possibly be set up in France or Germany.
Al Jazeera represents Turkey’s opinion expressed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Erdogan states that US sanctions are wrong and are aimed at unbalancing the world, while Mevlut Cavusoglu thinks that it is dangerous to isolate Iran, pointing out that “instead of sanctions, meaningful dialogue and engagement is much more useful.”
US sanctions, which place an embargo on oil and seek to cut off Iran’s banking sector from global markets, took effect on Monday. According to Reuters President Donald Trump called the sanctions an effective strategy. He called the 2015 deal “the worst in history”, implying that it does nothing to put restraints on Iran’s non-nuclear aggression, including the killing of dissidents abroad, its support of regional militant groups and its development of long-range ballistic missiles.
The sanctions take aim at Iran’s oil industry, a crucial element for its anaemic economy, and will end all the economic benefits America granted Tehran for its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, though Iran continues to abide by the accord that saw it limit its enrichment of uranium.
The reimposition would lead to a bigger crisis in Iran, where the national currency, the rial, has plummeted over the last year, sending prices sky high.
Iran has launched air defence drills in response to the reimposition of US sanctions. The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, saying the country now faces “a war situation”.
The US has, however, allowed several of its allies to continue importing Iranian oil. The eight countries, which are granted temporary waivers, are China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey, The Guardian reported.
But the sanctions will not affect Iran’s trade with the rest of the world. The European Union, for example, has implemented a special system for payments that allows companies to dodge the US measures. The so-called “special purpose vehicle” will provide a way for companies to move money in and out of Iran when Western banks won’t do that.
Media Coverage
I. Online news
Fox News talks about the mass anti-government protests at the end of last year, which resulted in nearly 5000 reported arrests and at least 25 people being killed.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explains the reasons for reimposing sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. He says, “They’re aimed at a single purpose – denying the world’s largest state sponsor of terror the capacity to do things like the things they’ve done in the past few weeks.”
The New York Times focuses on the Europe’s will to stay in the nuclear deal, as the Europeans consider it crucial to their national interests. It gives attention to the EU idea for “special purpose vehicle” and there’s another article especially for that.
Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s top diplomat, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister
Huffington Post looks more on the bright side of life, analysing Donald Trump’s “Game Of Thrones”- style meme, which he posted on Friday, and the reactions it gets, most of them listed in the “WTF” category.
Meanwhile, I looked through people’s reactions on Twitter and I found an interesting “meme” response by Kirby James Wilson:
Another article highlights that sanctions seek to limit Iran’s ability to export oil by excluding companies which trade Iranian oil from doing business in the U.S. , but they will not affect Iran’s trade with the rest of the world. It points out that now Iran is not threatening to resume higher enrichment and it explains the importance of enriched uranium as a component of civil nuclear power generation and most nuclear weaponry.
The Guardian is the online source listing the names of all eight US allies that are granted temporary waivers.
In “Monday US briefing” it mentions that the sanctions, which took place on Monday, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.
The BBC quotes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who said that Iran must “act like a normal country, or see its economy crumble”. On the other side, the president of Iran Hassan Rouhani insisted that Iran would “continue selling oil”. It explains quite well how the situation emerged and the consequences from it.
The CNN points out that the US withdrawal from the pact spurred an exodus of international companies from Iran, including European giants Total and Airbus. It reports that people fear sanctions may cause shortages of food and medicine, and an increase in youth unemployment.
The broadcast reports that according to Trump Iran is the single greatest threat to peace in the Middle East. The new sanctions would deprive Iran of money used for violent activities. Downing Street regreted the US decision and Britain would continue to support UK businesses expanding trade with Iran.
III. Newspapers
The Daily Telegraph explores the topic with the articles New sanctions prompt defiant ‘Death to America’ street protests in Iran and Sanctions should force Iran back to the table. The former highlights the insecurity the young generation has to face due to US sanctions. The latter points out that “the deal was supposed to foster stability in the Middle East, help the people of Iran and encourage moderate forces in the country- but it has done none of this”.
Felix Salmon’s piece of writing provides some good food for thought. My first reaction when reading the headline was, ‘Can’t journalists read properly, or is there something more than meets their eye?’ . It turns out, Felix has the ability to witness the biggest problems concerning journalism:
He believes that what is missing in the journalistic establishment is people who are good at finding and curating great material.
The main focus on Salmon’s speech during The Audit’s breakfast, is that the journalistic entities- newspapers, magazines, websites, have to start putting much more emphasis on reading. The reason why he emphasizes on this was because journalism is becoming much more conversational.
Think about it this way: reading is to writing as listening is to talking — and someone who talks without listening is both a boor and a bore. If you can’t read, I don’t want you in my newsroom. Because you aren’t taking part in the conversation which is all around you.
2. According to Dean Starkman, journalists who no longer work for old-fashioned media cannot be called ‘journalists’ , while Salmon thinks quite the opposite, and here lies the second issue- between old-fashioned and contemporary media.
Both of them produce material worth reading. The difference between ‘now’ and ‘those halcyon days’ is that today we have got more high-grade journalism available to the public than ever before.
3. And last, but not least, it is not about the shortage of journalists, but that of critical readers, who absorb the information, without misinterpreting it.
What makes one person a good journalist is his ability to read between the lines, to engulf fully in a situation until all points of view are considered. Everyone can be a publisher on Twitter or Facebook, but not everyone can create a content worthy of notice.
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