With a potential war looming with Iraq, American journalists are headed to the front lines as well as U.S. troops.
Among them are six staffers from the Free Press.
Readers probably are familiar with two of them through “Portraits of War,” a series of stories by reporter Jeff Seidel and illustrations by Richard Johnson that began in the Free Press on Wednesday.
Seidel describes how the military’s men and women are training and living in the desert and aboard ships.
Johnson’s illustrations carry on a proud tradition of combat drawings dating to the Civil War.
Their Page 1 story and illustration Wednesday drew praise from readers, including the mother of Pfc. Jeffry Prokosch, who hadn’t seen or heard from her son since his deployment.
“I have missed two calls from him, have had one short letter and have not seen him since Jan. 3, my birthday. He deployed on the 5th,” said Terry Seda of Sanford, Fla., in an e-mail to the Free Press.
“A close family friend just moved to Michigan this past week, and what does she read but the story of a Sanford soldier in the Detroit Free Press. The illustration of my son shows it all. You captured his inner feelings so well. His voice is always soft, his look pensive.”
Seidel and Johnson are joined by four other Free Press journalists in the region. Veteran photographer David Gilkey is with the 3rd Infantry Division; reporter Nancy Youssef and photographer Eric Seals are in Jordan, and Washington correspondent Ruby L. Bailey is onboard an aircraft carrier in the region.
Thom Fladung, Free Press managing editor, said there was much discussion and coordination among Knight Ridder newspapers and its Washington bureau in selecting the journalists to send.
“We think each person brings an unusual talent or perspective. Gilkey and Seals are wartime vets. Youssef is fluent in Arabic. Johnson and Seidel are trying to bring a distinctive touch,” said Fladung.
All the journalists received training before they left.
“They bought lots of protective gear, including biochemical suits and body armor,” Fladung said. “They have all had training tailored to journalists, but we are always concerned for their safety.”
They are on 90-day assignments, then it’s their choice if they want to remain, Fladung said.
Knight Ridder, the parent company of the Free Press, has more than 30 journalists covering various aspects of the U.S. deployment.
According to Editor & Publisher magazine, the Pentagon has assigned more than 500 slots to print and broadcast news organizations, who will have reporters and photojournalists with units from all four major branches of the U.S. military.
