Description
This is a diary of Frank Kearns, a CBS News correspondent who went to Algeria in 1957 to cover the war for independence. Kearns and his cameraman, Yousef Masraff, disguised themselves as Algerians and traveled into the war-torn area with FLN escorts. Despite the risks, they sought to report the truth, even if it meant risking their lives. Kearns' diary is a fascinating look into the history of Algeria and the Cold War, and it is an excellent example of the importance of journalism.
Frank Kearns was the go-to guy at CBS News for danger- ous stories in Africa and the Middle East in the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s. By his own account, he was nearly killed 114 times. He took stories that nobody else wanted to cover and was challenged to get them on the air when nobody cared about this part of the world. But his stories were warning shots for conflicts that play out in the headlines today.In 1957, Senator John Kennedy described Americas view of the Algerian war for independence as the Eisenhower Administrations head in the sand policy. So CBS News decided to find out what was really happening there and to determine where Algerias war for independence fit into the game plan for the Cold War. They sent Frank Kearns to find out.Kearns took with him cameraman Yousef (Joe) Masraff and 400 pounds of gear, some of which they shed, and they hiked with FLN escorts from Tunisia, across a wide no-mans land, and into the Aures Mountains of eastern Algeria, where the war was bloodiest. They carried no passports or visas. They dressed as Algerians. They refused to bear weapons. And they knew that if captured, they would be executed and left in unmarked graves. But their job as journalists was to seek the truth whatever it might turn out to be.This is Frank Kearnss diary.
Related Products
