Reporters on the Job: From Canada to Syria

Thunder Bay, Canada – Sara Miller LlanaIn my career reporting from nearly 50 countries, I can count on one hand the number of times someone has explicitly declined an interview because of this newspaper’s name. I’ve interviewed people of all faiths, backgrounds, and political persuasions, and I’ve always taken this as a sign of how much people ultimately trust one another. But recently in Thunder Bay, a source I particularly wanted to interview declined because of the word “Christian” in our name. I explained who we are and sent examples of our reporting from around the world, to no avail. It was frustrating, and a reminder that sometimes a reporter has to overcome assumptions before she can even ask the first question.Washington – Caitlin BabcockWhen covering the White House, you quickly learn that schedules are suggestions and preparation is key. One afternoon while pooling, all events – including the president’s lunch with leaders of major U.S.-based AI companies – were listed as closed to the media. Still, I memorized the attending CEOs’ names, prepared questions, and packed a lunch so I wouldn’t have to leave campus – after all, you never know. Around 3:30 p.m., House Speaker Mike Johnson and several tech leaders suddenly began speaking to reporters outside the West Wing. A few minutes later, President Donald Trump joined them. For more than 30 minutes, reporters pressed him and the AI leaders about their meeting. My preparation paid off: I sent detailed pool reports to a wider group of reporters who weren’t there. Reykjavík, Iceland – Mark SappenfieldFlipping through National Geographic as a sixth grader, senior global correspondent Mark Sappenfield became captivated by Iceland. “I’ve always been really fascinated by these very lonesome places on Earth,” he says. “It’s kindling for my active imagination.” When he finally got to Reykjavík to report on a referendum about exploring European Union membership, his understanding shifted. He’d always thought of Iceland as firmly European. Instead, he found something closer to the American spirit – above all, a willingness to embrace risk. Perhaps that ties back to the untamed landscape of volcanoes and rough seas that piqued his curiosity in the first place. “There’s a largeness of spirit,” he says. “It’s everywhere in Iceland.” – Sara Miller Llana / International editor Damascus, Syria – Taylor LuckIn my 20 years reporting in the Middle East, I have attended many wedding celebrations. I never thought, on a reporting trip to Syria, I would attend mine.Aware that I had recently tied the knot, family and friends in Damascus prepared a surprise traditional arada, or celebratory sword dance. As I arrived at my lodging after 12 hours of interviews, a folk troupe of 14 acrobatic young men in embroidered vests blared trumpets and banged drums to welcome me. Clapping and twirling, they sang my name and praises. I raised a sword and danced. Neighbors cheered from their balconies. My driver, Feras, filmed it on his phone. Friends passed cups of creamy mahalabia pudding and rose syrup. As the troupe left and the crowd dispersed, I did what any good journalist groom would do: I typed up my interviews. Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.