L.A. Journalists Sentenced in North Korea

News spread like wildfire today about what has happened to two L.A. journalists in North Korea.
Laura Ling and journalism colleague Euna Lee have both been convicted on some "grave crime" that results in a penalty of 12 years hard labor.
Just what is North Korea trying to do and why do they think the rest of the world won't care? It does care and the proof is in the countless news reports that are coming across the wires about what has happened in North Korea.
This is media in action; freedom of speech that is used to alert, not divert,our attention to human rights violations around the world. News people are watch dogging human rights violations and risking their lives -- as these two women have done -- to keep us informed. And,without information how can we stay informed?
It is a relief for me to know that reporters are paying attention and speaking out, and doing so loudly - at least loud enough for most of us to hear.
According to Raja Abdulrahim and Jessica Garrison of the Los Angeles Times:

Ling, 32, and Lee, 36, who work for San Francisco-based Current TV, were convicted by the communist nation's Central Court of an undefined "grave crime" against the regime and sentenced Monday to 12 years of hard labor.

Both women work in Current's Vanguard journalism department -- Ling as a vice president and correspondent and Lee as a film editor. Current, founded by former Vice President Al Gore and others, is a television network carried on cable and satellite that is aimed at young people and strives to serve as a platform for citizen journalism while also producing documentaries on topics not covered elsewhere.
For complete story: Los Angeles Times

Diplomatic efforts are far from complete as the women have not yet been released. I am comforted in knowing that journalists will be working on this story, staying with it until these women have been freed.
It's at times like this that I am especially grateful for the committed efforts of news people who strive to keep us apprised of what is going on in the world around us.
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