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Baring Secrets for the Sake of Democracy
(October 8, 2004) -
In preparing a series of articles on India’s nuclear research
programs, Raj Chengappa, desk editor at India Today magazine,
knew that any errors of fact or perception could have grave consequences
for the security of a billion people. "I had a responsibility
to be honest and fair. That attitude is essential for gaining
people’s trust and giving them the sense I’ll respect
their point of view," explained the 1998 winner of the
prestigious Prem Bhatia Award for Excellence in Reporting.
Chengappa adopted the values of the science world
where pursuit of the truth is fundamental. To achieve this, he
learned more about science and technology as well as about politics,
economics, international relations and military issues, knowing
that they were all interrelated. He asked scientists for explanations
of complex data hard to put into ordinary language because he
wanted to write using simple words so that readers could clearly
understand the issues. "I focused on numerous details.
I persisted in my curiosity and asked questions that might seem
innocuous and childish. It’s often in the small human non-verbal
details that you gain an understanding of official secrets,"
he said at yesterday’s session on science and national security.
Check, doublecheck, talk to experts and opponents
from non-government organizations. "You always have to
be skeptical," said Hervé Kempf of Le Monde.
"Is it a matter of national security or democracy? Will
the information I have help maintain peace in the world? Reporters
has to bear in mind that democracy defends itself with the confidential
information they release," he added after Chengappa had
spoken.
That can’t always be taken for granted. Kempf had to spend
a month arguing with his editorial team before it would publish
a report on the resumption of biological weapons research in the
West. And Chengappa lost valuable contacts who have since refused
to talk to him.
Denise Proulx
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