As I commented in an earlier installment, I find myself engrossed not only by the unspeakable human tragedy that are at the center of your story, but also by the ethical questions that you had to struggle with as a reporter at almost every turn. When is it permitted to compensate achingly poor sources for their time and trouble? How to learn essential facts about the abuse the Congolese girls who were raped while somehow not retraumatizing them them in the process of conducting interviews? And, now, in this episode, how to stop ongoing crimes without publicizing information that could place your sources and allies in significant jeopardy? Each of these questions pitted your journalistic interest in getting the story out against your compassionate obligations to the people involved. You've made your agonizing over these urgent decisions palpable to me, and, I hope to others, especially those who might mistake the trappings of journalistic ethics for the real thing. I really do appreciate it.
I can't thank you enough. This is truly, as I said, all I could have hoped to do — I hate that journalism is so opaque. I think if people really understood how it gets made, that it's composed of endless, human decisions, there would be less distrust of the profession.
Once again, you have jarred my tranquility and refreshed my memory of your treacherous journey in DRC. Your ability to bring the horror of that situation to the world and your important contribution, without smug self-aggrandizement, is overwhelming. More people need to know what happens in some of these poor countries, where the majority is uneducated and has virtually no ability to defend themselves.
Once again, what you do makes me a very proud papa!
I can’t even begin to imagine the frustration of sitting in New York, knowing who the rapist was, and learning of new crimes. Your clear thinking and judgement in how you handled the risk to David and the rest is nothing short of heroic.
I’d love to hear the emotions you felt when you received the phone call. I was cheering - that’s how powerful this story and your writing are.
I can't even express how I felt. I think I was laughing my face off with joy after reading that email. I just spent days — months — in happy disbelief. As someone said to me at the time, "Most journalists never see an outcome like this, ever, in their entire career."
Lauren, I finally read all 9 parts, sorry it took so long! American media, especially TV and digital, can be so sensationalist in the last decade or so that one starts to just see so much of what they say as commercially driven hyperbole.
You've restored my faith that journalism really is the single most critical element of a free society. Even if the society isn't all that free, as in the Congo, the journalism still can play a part but only if there is courage. You had (and still do have) that courage. I am deeply and personally thanking you for living up to your calling. You are, along with the investigator, in my pantheon of heroes I look up to.
How agonizing that decision had to be. Thank you for your decision and thank you for sharing this heartbreaking but very necessary story. I don't know if you will write about it but I hope that the girls that survived, got some help and are able to live as normal a life as possible.
Thank you. And yes to all, but I need to do a new round of reporting to know the latest on their lives. Upcoming will be the trial...and the conviction, which is a rarity in a lawless place like DRC. And I'm planning to soon restart a fundraiser that raised $20,000 for the medical and psychological care of the girls.
This was thrilling to read. Four hours! I finally got those chills! I’m still confused by the creepy laughter from the last post - was it just the hysteria of seeing the truth in writing?
Thank you! That was the response of a professional not saying anything compromising and the writing of a journalist trying to never say anything that would harm their source.
Hi Lauren, I subscribed to Chills today having followed you on Twitter for a while. This story is incredible. I've gathered fundraising stories for an NGO from South Sudan, CAR and Burundi and so I can imagine some of the environments you were in. I'm very glad I signed up to Chills and look forward to learning more. Thanks, Andrew.
As I commented in an earlier installment, I find myself engrossed not only by the unspeakable human tragedy that are at the center of your story, but also by the ethical questions that you had to struggle with as a reporter at almost every turn. When is it permitted to compensate achingly poor sources for their time and trouble? How to learn essential facts about the abuse the Congolese girls who were raped while somehow not retraumatizing them them in the process of conducting interviews? And, now, in this episode, how to stop ongoing crimes without publicizing information that could place your sources and allies in significant jeopardy? Each of these questions pitted your journalistic interest in getting the story out against your compassionate obligations to the people involved. You've made your agonizing over these urgent decisions palpable to me, and, I hope to others, especially those who might mistake the trappings of journalistic ethics for the real thing. I really do appreciate it.
I can't thank you enough. This is truly, as I said, all I could have hoped to do — I hate that journalism is so opaque. I think if people really understood how it gets made, that it's composed of endless, human decisions, there would be less distrust of the profession.
Once again, you have jarred my tranquility and refreshed my memory of your treacherous journey in DRC. Your ability to bring the horror of that situation to the world and your important contribution, without smug self-aggrandizement, is overwhelming. More people need to know what happens in some of these poor countries, where the majority is uneducated and has virtually no ability to defend themselves.
Once again, what you do makes me a very proud papa!
DAD. Thank you.
I can’t even begin to imagine the frustration of sitting in New York, knowing who the rapist was, and learning of new crimes. Your clear thinking and judgement in how you handled the risk to David and the rest is nothing short of heroic.
I’d love to hear the emotions you felt when you received the phone call. I was cheering - that’s how powerful this story and your writing are.
I can't even express how I felt. I think I was laughing my face off with joy after reading that email. I just spent days — months — in happy disbelief. As someone said to me at the time, "Most journalists never see an outcome like this, ever, in their entire career."
Lauren, I finally read all 9 parts, sorry it took so long! American media, especially TV and digital, can be so sensationalist in the last decade or so that one starts to just see so much of what they say as commercially driven hyperbole.
You've restored my faith that journalism really is the single most critical element of a free society. Even if the society isn't all that free, as in the Congo, the journalism still can play a part but only if there is courage. You had (and still do have) that courage. I am deeply and personally thanking you for living up to your calling. You are, along with the investigator, in my pantheon of heroes I look up to.
Thank you. There are so many heroes yet to come in this story...
Thank you for your bravery in doing something to help these children.
How agonizing that decision had to be. Thank you for your decision and thank you for sharing this heartbreaking but very necessary story. I don't know if you will write about it but I hope that the girls that survived, got some help and are able to live as normal a life as possible.
Thank you. And yes to all, but I need to do a new round of reporting to know the latest on their lives. Upcoming will be the trial...and the conviction, which is a rarity in a lawless place like DRC. And I'm planning to soon restart a fundraiser that raised $20,000 for the medical and psychological care of the girls.
This was thrilling to read. Four hours! I finally got those chills! I’m still confused by the creepy laughter from the last post - was it just the hysteria of seeing the truth in writing?
Thank you! That was the response of a professional not saying anything compromising and the writing of a journalist trying to never say anything that would harm their source.
Thank you for following your gut, and publishing! Congratulations. Fantastic story.
Thank you.
Hi Lauren, I subscribed to Chills today having followed you on Twitter for a while. This story is incredible. I've gathered fundraising stories for an NGO from South Sudan, CAR and Burundi and so I can imagine some of the environments you were in. I'm very glad I signed up to Chills and look forward to learning more. Thanks, Andrew.
Thank you so much!
CHILLS. . .
Incredible story, Lauren!
So glad you’re safe. 🙏
CHILLS. . .
Incredible story, Lauren!
So glad you’re safe. 🙏
CHILLS. . .
Incredible story, Lauren!
So glad you’re safe. 🙏