Talk:Robert Fisk
From Academic Kids
I object to the reference to the term "Fisking" in this article. It is obviously derived from the word fisting which is a "sexual behaviour that involves inserting a hand or fist into a vagina or anus. It often leads to orgasm."
[Methinks Viajero doth protest too much -ed.]
Robert Fisk is a brave and highly respected journalist, dedicated to reporting the complex reality of conflicts. He dares to speak the truth even when this offends the powerful of the day. The term "fisking" seems to have been coined by extremist hate groups, expressing their disgust towards people who stand upright and speak the truth. During the seven years I have spent in England, and despite reading a lot of news and opinion articles, I have never even once come across this word ; which means that it's use is restricted to these hate groups. The only purpose of it's inclusion here is therefore defamatory. It is also a very subtle violation of the Wikipedia rules that profanity and bias should be avoided.
If I misunderstand the word "fisking", please do explain it to me. If no-body can explain why it would be important to leave it in this article, I will delete it.
- 12. September 2003 pir
- I did a Google search and came up an alternative definition:
- "A point-by-point refutation of a blog entry or (especially) news story." [1] (http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/F/fisking.html)
- and it is indeed derived from Fisk:
- The leftist British writer Robert Fisk has been ripped apart so many times by bloggers and others that the act of comprehensive rippage has become known as "Fisking." [2] (http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/08/18/005302.php)
- -- Viajero 09:49, 21 Oct 2003 (UTC)
Since when was Fisk "respected"? Al
For quite some time, Al. Look here:
"[...]A remarkable combination of war reporting and analysis by an author who has witnessed the carnage of Beirut for twenty-five years, Fisk, the first journalist to whom bin Laden announced his jihad against the U.S., is one of the world's most fearless and honored foreign correspondents. He spares no one in this saga of the civil war and subsequent Israeli invasion: the PLO, whose thuggish behavior alienated most Lebanese; the various Lebanese factions, whose appalling brutality spared no one; the Syrians, who supported first the Christians and then the Muslims in their attempt to control Lebanon; and the Israelis, who tried to install their own puppets and, with their 1982 invasion, committed massive war crimes of their own.[...]" <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/1560254424/revi ews/104-8475646-4571930#15602544247297>
Financial Times, February 24, 1990 "Robert Fisk is one of the outstanding reporters of this generation. As a war correspondent he is unrivalled."
Sunday Times, March 11, 1990 "He is a devastating witness to the failure of politics to guard mankind against itself."
Literary Review, 1990 "One is left in awe at?[Fisk's] industry, commitment and courage in reporting the ugliest of the world's current conflicts."
"The labyrinthian tale of Lebanon's destruction [...] Fisk, a highly honored British journalist who wrote for The Times (London) for 11 years and who still lives in Lebanon, conveys those appalling events of 1976-85 with the passionate intensity of someone outraged at the actions that have turned a country and people inside out." - David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L., Ariz. From Library Journal
From Book News, Inc. "Witness to the carnage of Beirut for more than a decade, journalist Fisk tells a story of betrayal and illusion, of a Western blindness and arrogance that has led, inevitably, to political and military catastrophe."
[all these can be found here:] <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/1560254424/revi ews/104-8475646-4571930#15602544247297>
""Robert Fisk has spent the last 25 years in Lebanon. He brings the skills of a dedicated reporter, the objectivity of an outsider and the knowledge of a local to the subject. The most compelling thing about this incredible book is the quantity and quality of eye witness testimony. Robert tells the story as only one who has been there can. Another striking thing about this book is Robert's desire to be exact and precise. Everything is cited and referenced. " <http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560254424/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_2/026- 3917911-9110060>
Reporters Without Borders "A journalist of international renown, a Middle East specialist and one of the first to denounce the 1982 massacres in the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps [...]" <http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=2291>
"Robert Fisk, one of England's premier reporters, and a most thoughtful and graceful writer on the trials and tribulations of the Middle East crisis,[...]" <http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=13260>
"Robert Fisk is a journalist who has dedicated his life to defend the helpless and the downtrodden. He has frequently unmasked the tyrannies and hypocrisies of those who would otherwise be invisible were it not for men and women like him" <http://www.palestinechronicle.com/article.php?story=20020530153745837>
pir 17:18, 12 Mar 2004 (UTC)
He is a very well known Journalist, sure... but respected?
By whom? Al
- By most people who have followed his career. --Zero 22:10, 15 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- Like Osama bin Laden "The latter [Fisk] is one of your compatriots and co-religionists and I consider him to be neutral." [3] (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/79C6AF22-98FB-4A1C-B21F-2BC36E87F61F.htm)
Some of the references above seem to be trying to sell his books.
What does "respected" mean in this context? He's undoubtedly courageous. His factual reporting is well written and vivid. But does that mean his OPINIONS (ie, that everything is the fault of the West) are respected?
Example.
He was beaten up by Afghan refugees in Pakistan. His peice afterwards came very close to saying it's understandable to beat up westerners (even those, like Fisk, who are sympathetic to the refugees and opposed the Afghan war) just because they're westerners. I don't know whether I respect that opinion - but I don't agree with it.
Exile 15:58, 7 Oct 2004 (UTC)
This man is a controversial figure, I think we need more info on criticisms of him and his writing.
pir, i think, is a profoundly silly person.
"fisting".
in any case, though i probably won't be the the one to do it, someone who has focussed critically on robert fisk's carrer as a propagandist with a press pass should compose a thoughtfull paragraph or two detailing at least those episodes that have damaged his credibility to it's present, flagging state.
regardless of what form it takes, at least some criticality would be nessesary for this entry to approach a wholeness. i am indifferent to maintaining the "fiskie" entry, but something needs to be there.
definition
valjero has it correct.
article needs ballance, criticality
pir, i think, is a profoundly silly person.
"fisting".
in any case, though i probably won't be the the one to do it, someone who has focussed critically on robert fisk's carrer as a propagandist with a press pass should compose a thoughtfull paragraph or two detailing at least those episodes that have damaged his credibility to it's present, flagging state.
regardless of what form it takes, at least some criticality would be nessesary for this entry to approach a wholeness. i am indifferent to maintaining the "fiskie" entry, but something needs to be there.
Promoting of political opinions on awards.
Hello,
I do object to the edits from Guy Montag to the article, which are:
although, as famously demonstrated by Walter Duranty and a long list of others, journalism awards are not always proof of ethical standards or truth in reporting.. This is in relation to the awards that Fisk has produced.
This is a property of *journalism* and not a property of Fisk's awards. So either the same text is added to every reference of journalism, or added to the journalism page, but picking on Fisk's integrity as a journalist because you happen to disagree with him.
In any case, the use of the expression "famously demostrated by X and a long list of others" is a weasel term, and it is not recommended to be used: Avoid_weasel_terms
- I agree that we should stick with the facts - which appear to be that "Fisk has received several journalism awards, including the British International Journalist of the Year award seven times". Readers are perfectly able to make up their own minds about how meaningful, or not, that these awards are, jguk 22:35, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)
