As I walked through the doors of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., I embarked on a journey that took me through the phenomenal historic moments of journalism. The mission of the Newseum, to promote, explain, and defend free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment, became vividly clear as I viewed its captivating exhibits.
The Newseum was established in 2008 and funded by the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to championing free press, free speech, and free spirit. It stands between the U.S. Capitol and the White House at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. It is a constant reminder of the essential role that journalism plays in our society, offering a space to reflect on the crucial values of free expression.
One of the most striking aspects of the Newseum is its ability to
showcase the global differences in freedom of the press.
The Berlin Wall Exhibit stood as a testament to the role of journalism in bringing down barriers. Standing before a section of the actual Berlin Wall, I could almost feel
the weight of its historical significance. It was a powerful tribute to
the role journalists played in capturing and sharing the stories behind
this iconic symbol of the Cold War era.
USA 2011
Walking through the Newseum, I encountered artifacts from the harrowing events of 9/11. The display took me back to that day, with newspapers, photographs, and personal stories on the tragedy. The media played a critical role of informing the public even in that very dark moment
Kenya 2013: One particularly powerful exhibit featured an award-winning photograph taken by a journalist during the Westgate attack in Kenya, where I come from. I will never forget this day - the event that took place in that mall would only come from a scripted movie from hell. As I looked at this photograph, it was all flowing back to me - in one picture the terror was evident. A mother and her children
lying flat on the floor, seeking safety from the Al-Shabaab attack,
highlighted the untold stories of bravery and survival amidst terror. But someone had to capture this moment amidst hails of bullets and grenades - Journalism is about pushing the limits in order to tell the stories of those affected by such acts of violence.
(Kenya, 2013. A mother and her children lie flat against the floor, hiding for five hours in Nairobi's West Gate mall during 2013 attack by Alshabab - a somali Islamic Militant group. Sixty-seven people were killed. The mother and her children survived. Tyler Hicks. The New York Times)
The Newseum's 90-foot-high atrium held captivating artifacts that
celebrated journalistic achievements. Suspended above me was a Bell
JetRanger helicopter and a replica of the first news satellite, which
revolutionized live global TV broadcasting.
Somalia 1993: Among the numerous exhibits, the Pulitzer Prize Photographs gallery left
an indelible mark on me. Witnessing every winner of this esteemed prize
displayed together was a humbling experience. One particular photograph
from Somalia in 1993 drew my attention. It depicted a bone-thin girl at
a feeding center, a stark representation of the devastating impact of
civil war. The award-winning photograph from war-ravaged Somalia in 1993 was a
haunting reminder of the impact of civil conflict. The image of that frail girl seeking refuge at a feeding center depicted the grim
reality faced by millions during the 17-year civil war.
(Somalia, 1993 Winner: A 17 years civil war in Somali left millions without food and water, like this bone-thin girl at a feeding centre in 1992. The civil war claimed roughly 350,000 lives from the violence, famine and diseases before it ended in 2008. Andrew Holbrooke, Black Star)
The exhibits in the Newseum breathed life into the stories of brave journalists who
tirelessly document the highs and lows of the human experience.
As I walked out of the Newseum, I carried with me a renewed respect for the power
of storytelling and a profound understanding of the critical role that a
free press plays in shaping our society.
More Pictures from the Newseum
Libya 2012
As Libya dictator Muammar Gaddafi's headquarters burns, a man kicks a soccer ball across a destroyed landscape in Tripoliin 2011. Later that year. Gaddafi - who ruled for 42 years was executed by rebels. Philippe De Poulpiquet, Le Parisien. Libya 2012
Yemen 2012Child brides in Yemen stand with their husbands, who are often as much as 20 years older. In Yemen there is no legal minimum age for marriage. Impoverished families marry off their pre-teen girls for practical or economic purposes - one less mouth to feed or a way to pay off debt. Stepanie Sinclair, VII for National Geographic Magazine . Yemen 2012.
Pakistan 2011
Pakistan 2011: Stranded flood victims in Pakistan cling to an army helicopter dropping food supplies. More than 2200 people died and 14 million were displaced by flooding brought by torrential rains in 2010. Its considered the worst humanitarian disaster in Pakistan History. Adrees Latif . Reuters.
United States 1998
United States 1998. Breast Cancer survivor Ned Aster reveals her mastectomy scar in 1997. Before 1998, most health insurance carriers denied coverage of breast reconstruction surgery, considering it cosmetic surgery. In 1998, the Women's health and Cancer Rights Act was passed, requiring insurers to cover reconstruction surgery. Maeguerite Nicosia Torres, The Ithaca Journal
Malawi 1989
Mozambican refugee walks among the latrines at a refugee encampment in Malawi. As mny as 400000 refugees surged into Malawi in 1988, escaping the brutal violence from the civil war in Mozambique that killed an estimated million people. Peter Turnley, Black star. Malawi, 1989.
Liberia, 2015
Medical staffers dressed to avoid contamination by the deadly Ebla virus carry 8 years old James Dorbor into a medical facility in Monrovia, Liberia. West Africa outbreak lasted 2014 - 2016 and took 11, 315 lives. James was among the dead. By Daniel Berehulak, Getty Images Reportage for the New York Times. Liberia, 2015.
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