Nicholas D. Kristof’s video-podcast, My Iranian Road Trip, is a daringly-brave piece of investigative journalism. His ability to capture the human element is elevating for all future journalists to aspire towards.
In this, short 13 minute podcast, published by the New York Times, Kristof travels over 1,700 miles through Iran in search of the Iranian people’s view of America and also of their own government.
He is successful in reporting the many differences in culture, religion, and politics, compared to our own.
In the beginning scene, Kristof visits the Caspian Sea to an Iranian beach, where he soon notices these stark-differences. Woman must show no forearm. Lifeguards patrolling the beach, watch over specially-designed sea walls, in order to separate the female swimmers from males. In one scene, they videotape a man trying to sneak a peek over the wall, with lifeguards soon pursuing; whistles blaring.
As an aspiring journalist, I found Kristof’s video-podcast inspiring. His ability to capture the human element, in a country with an ideological difference than our own, is brave and truly demonstrates a desire to “seek truth and report it,” as the SPJ Code of Ethics instructs all journalist that follow it.
I think watching a video-podcast was both entertaining and informative. It kept me visually stimulated and because of the short amount of length and incredible reporting, I was able to gather a lot of information in a small-span of time. Watching this podcast on my laptop, as opposed to listening to a podcast, I feel I became more engaged. It made me want to actually watch what he was discussing. It gave a face to the people’s stories he was telling. This is completely different then when I listen to the NY Times Science Podcast, which is audio. Then, I feel as though I can do chores, cook, or even take a shower while still being engaged.