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Some people accused me of being pro-Muslim in Bosnia, but I realised that our job is to give all sides an equal hearing, but in cases of genocide you can't just be neutral. You can't just say, 'Well, this little boy was shot in the head and killed in besieged Sarajevo and that guy over there did it, but maybe he was upset because he had an argument with his wife.' No, there is no equality there, and we had to tell the truth.
Christiane Amanpour
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of truth and justice over neutrality in reporting, especially in cases of human rights violations.

Christiane Amanpour highlights the ethical responsibility of journalists to present the truth, particularly in situations of grave injustice like genocide. She argues that neutrality can be morally unacceptable when one side is committing atrocities, and it is vital to convey the reality of suffering and injustice rather than simply providing equal weight to all perspectives. This stance underscores the obligation to stand against evil where it occurs, instead of maintaining a false balance.

Themes

TruthJournalismGenocideNeutralityJustice

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in discussions about media ethics at a journalism conference.

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