American war correspondent Kevin Sites points his camera toward an armed Maoist guerilla girl in Kailali, far west Nepal, this week. Pic by Wagle
By Dinesh Wagle
Saturday Blog
A soldier heading for the war zone would carry a loaded rifle along with a bandolier of bullets. What about a journalist who is going to cover that war? Pen and a notebook. A still camera if he is a photo journalist. Video camera for a TV reporter. If that journalist is Kevin Sites then he would carry a pen and a notebook in a small pouch, a still camera in one hand, a digital video camera in another and a backpack containing a powerful laptop computer on one side, Thuraya Satellite phone on the other, a backup digital video camera in between, a satellite modem in a pocket to transfer photos and videos to California from anywhere in the world. Plus, a palmtop mobile phone on a shirt pocket. Welcome to the new world of reporting where a correspondent leads a One Man Band to do audio, visual, text and photo journalism at the same time using high-tech gadgets. Kevin Sites is a renowned American reporter of contemporary world war journalism and is currently observing the effects of war on the streets of Kathmandu.
After observing a rally of Maoist victims that went to Singhadurbar on Friday (last week), this American journalist is now enjoying Dal, bhat and tarkari in a restaurant in Thamel. Sites is in a mission that will take him to 20 conflict-affected countries of the world in a year. That is why he was in Haiti before landing in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Before that he was in Columbia and Afghanistan. (Meanwhile, in the last four weeks, the winner of this year’s Daniel Pearl Award has also been to New York to deliver speeches, to Arizona to see his sick mother and to Los Angeles to spend some time with his girlfriend.) He has been to 13 countries since he started the mission seven months ago and more than 20 million people have been reading what he has been filing from the hot zones in a week.
The event was world news when Yahoo, one of the world’s largest Internet portals, hired Kevin as a first correspondent for their popular agency based news operation (Kevin Sites in Hot Zone). “His carefully constructed travel ensemble includes a rolling suitcase filled with lightweight clothing treated with insect repellent, a sleeping bag and a custom backpack that contains an array of gadgets that would put James Bond to shame,” wrote the New York Times reporting the event.
But Kevin won’t spy like Bond while reporting. “We journalists are storytellers,” he said while we were walking in Putalisadak as smells of fried meat was coming out of the hotels on the street. “And we are living in a digital age. Stories aren’t just flat. They are dynamic. The collaboration of pictures, video and words makes it easy to tell them more credibly.”
Traditional media (newspapers, radio and TV) can’t allow reporters to use all three mediums at the same time to tell stories. The rise and popularity of Internet has made that possible. That is why Kevin said Yahoo! rejecting lucrative job offers from all three big networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) of the United States. “Print lacks smell,” he says. “There is no context in TV and photos. That is why I use notebook to collect details, a still camera to take pictures of faces that are important part of storytelling and video to grab movements.” He thinks that details, faces and movements are equally important in digital storytelling.
The concept of Solo Journalist (SoJo) came as TV reporters wanted to work on their own by operating cameras as they move. But many (especially traditional) journalists in the US frown upon the SoJo concept saying that it would be difficult to concentrate for a reporter if he operates camera and takes note at the same time. “I faced some difficulties in the beginning,” Kevin said. “But now I am COMFORTABLE with this type of working style. You learn as you do it.”
How would Kevin compare his SoJo experience with his days in mainstream outlets like CNN and NBC? “AN NBC crew would welcome me in Kathmandu as I land at the airport,” he said. “Everything would be set up. But now I have to do that all thing on my own.” Kevin thinks that back pack journalism has both challenges and opportunities. “We don’t get a lot of time to tell our stories at the networks,” he says. “But here you tell the stories the way you like it and help audience understand the issues more effectively.”
Kevin Sites in Kathmandu.
This tall American with long hair and close-trimmed has maintained his body even as he extensively travels and works at the same time. When I told him that his appearance and muscles inspired a Nepali journalist to compare him with Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallion (Rambo), Kevin responded with a smile. Then he disclosed the mystery of long hair. “I spend most of my time in war zones,” the veteran war correspondent said. “When I had short hair, people didn’t cooperate with me thinking that I was a soldier or a spy. Long hair helps people relax around you.”
The sensational and world-renown Fallujah video that he shot of an American marine killing an unarmed Iraqi in 2003 has become Kevin’s identity. After that video was broadcast in NBC and other international television stations, he was branded both a traitor and a heroic journalist at the same time.
The journalist who has been filing as many reports as possible in limited time from different countries weeks after weeks will take a long vacation after finishing the mission. Then he will write a book and start the Hot Zone America series. He said that he might also set up a new web site or help Yahoo continue Hot Zone using foreign correspondents. Then that will be an opportunity for other reporters to put Bond to shame.
UWB: This article is translated from Nepali which was originally published in May 13 issue of Kantipur daily. Here is the original story
United We Blog 
Comments
256 responses to “Backpack Journalist: Kevin Sites In Kathmandu”
Now there is an adventure journalism in vogue. So, Mr. Sites is also part of it. Basically westerners promote the idea of rebellion. If it is a poor country, they come in numbers and they do the propoganda.But if there is something like that in their country, they suppress it forcefully. It will never be reported by CNN and BBC. Do you know there is nuclear weapon in Israel ? Why Iran’s nuclear program is always highlighted. The Western countries and their people have some hidden agenda thet is only to expose the weakest. Can he go to Guantanamo Bay and report about the violation of basic human rights of the people ?
everybody,
it is known to everybody.. there is something good to someone from a good or a bad thing.. maoists, whatever they might be rebels or terrorists, they have been now the subject of study for journalists, easy cause to earn money for Peace org’s etc..
from other sides, many nepalese around the world asked permission to stay in respective countries citing that the situation was not favorable to return to Nepal,they got green card…
Also, we see biogas as advantage from animal dung ,called as waste in normal life,an example only… like that,
maoists have become source of earning dollars for NGO’s, Human Right Org’s, peace orgs., for journalists.. what u feel for this.?..a coin has two sides, when side lightens other has darkness.
when they (maoists) will find out Kevin Sites is in Nepal ..they will ask him huge sum of donation from his earning and Sites will be out of sight.
“NOW, WITH SECULARISM, OUR ETHNIC CULTURES WILL BE DEMOLISHED. NEPAL WILL BE RELIGIOUSLY COLONIZED BY MASSIVE CONVERSIONS.”
I hate Gyane[ndra] [icd], I am not a Hindu fundamentalist, I am a Nepali, who loves nepali identity. I live abroad and my Nepali identity is the only thing I am proud of. But with the declaration of secularism, I have been most depressed and humiliated. It is a SUICIDE OF OUR CULTURE AND RELIGIONS. The most sufferers will be the indiginous minorities.
The SECULARISM benefits only to Muslim fundamentalists (Note: they slaughtered 12 Hindu Nepalese in Iraq but did not hurt a Muslim Nepali) and Christian missinaries. They ARE WORKING HARD TO DELETE Hinduism, Buddhism and all ethnic cultures from the land of Nepal.
Their first and foremost target is ethnic cultures, such as Rai, Limbu, Gurung (who are Hindus but the missinaries have plotted to break them away from Hindusim, convinced them against Hindus so that they could eventually be converted into Christianity.) this trick has worked very very much.
Religion is the last thing Nepali youths think of because of systematized religious education, which prevails in all MOST ADVANCED COUNTRIES. In america and europe,children are taught Bible from early school. In almost all Muslim countries, people compulsorily pray five times a day. Nepali youths are just the opposites, they laugh at their own parents, their own faiths and practices. So it is easy that such a great decision goes through UNNOTICED.
People are celebrating in their SHEER IGNORANCE.
Isn’t it surprising how the whole country, 27 million people, could be so IGNORANT?
THEY DO NOT KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE SECULARITY.
In ten to fiftenn years, temples will be destroyed and religious war, that has never happened in nepal’s history, will massacre people, burn down villages and rape women, like in India, Pakistan and Bangaladesh.
DECLARE NEPAL HINDU REPUBLIC OF NEPAL. Guarantee there will be no CONVERSION ALLOWED in Nepal. Because from now on, religion will be sold and bought at ratna park foot path. This will result in violence and bloodshed.
Nepal will lose its LANGUAGEs, cultures (NEWARI, MAITHILI, RAI, GURUNG ALL OTHERS), and Religions (Buddist, HIndu and all others)
kushal,
you are paranoid. chill.
i think it makes no difference if nepal were secular or otherwise, but it seems that being proclaimed a secular nation provides a great deal of satisfaction to people of ethnic minority groups. if that is the case, i see nothing wrong with it.
i do not see how hindus will be worse off if nepal is secular.
religion cannot dictate politics, no matter how central it is to a nation. it can support the political processes, yes. but a nation’s politics can not be based on religion.
as for your grave fears of mass conversions, i think your fears are unfounded.
kushal, Kirats (Rais & Limbus) are not Hindus. We have our own unique religion-that some classify as Animism-and we are proud of it. OK?
As for the rest of your post I can only despise you for your petty,narrow mindset.
Prakash,
Theoretically what you are saying “religion cannot dictate politics, no matter how central to a nation” is correct. Unfortunately, doing politics in the theoretical merit has not been known amongst politicians anywhere in the world. And we are so closely connected to India, geographically, culturally, or any means that you can think of, it is natural that our politicians are bound to draw ‘inspiration’ and ‘lessons’ from Indian politics. It may not be long before that the overwhelming majority Hindu may feel or percieve marginalized; and the majority will like to assert the fact that they are in majority. It is obivious for even a blind politicians to sense this opportunity and manipulate people (through emotive appeals) for electoral gains.
The declaration of secularism has opened avenue for this situation coming up in Nepal with strong possibility of segregation amongst people on the basis of religion and ethnicity.
ok lets give damn to all these religious toks….yeh bro kirat…you shud be proud of being waht you are…..but now on lets give damn to the toks regarding religion..casts..blah blah whatever…..lets tok abt no caste …no religion…and world citizenship!!
Listen to the sound of REVOLUTION!!Listen to Radio Janaganatantra!! On 95.1 MHz Frequency Modulation!!! Now in Kathmandu! Everyday 9:30 am onwards!
All of u r so pathetic. U type away to glory as if u all know everything. Whoz hearing u r voice? Practically no one. Instead of lecturing abt democracy, religion, secularism, why don’t u bunch of sorry lunatics, do some real work? Or u have no balls to do some concrete work. All of u r losers, good-for-nothing city-bred whiners.
WELL DONE KEVIN SITES. BUT I WOULD STILL NOT CALL YOU A HERO OF JOURNALISM. IF YOU REALLY CARE TO CAPTURE THE SHOW IN YOUR CAMERA, WRITE THE TRUTH AND CAPTURE THE NEVER-SEEN-BEFORE KIND OF FOOTAGES, WHY DON’T YOU GO TO CHINA AND SHOW THE WORLD WHY PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BUY CHINESE PRODUCTS.
I read the comments here. I don’t know if people are so naive or they have too high expectation.
I saw end of Panchayat and democracy came in 2046. Then political parties fought within the party and among themselves in those years. They squandered the goodwill and trust of people. The Maoists came with ray of hope but they were too brutual with antique ideas. Their promise of liberating ‘working class’ ended with oppressing the very class for whom they were fighting for. Then the King took over. The result was no different. Now again, the political parties have come. So the circle has become full.
When Panchayat ended, we had so many hopes. We thought political parties will work to make Nepal better and developed. All the social stigmas will be removed. But they did nothing. Earlier (in Panchayat) it used to bhai-bhardar ruling. After 2046, it was the activists of the political parties. Instead of dismantling the existing structures (they fought against), they only changed the top-most person of the structure. The political parties became representatives of new feudals. They shouted ‘Democracy was in danger’, ‘grand design against democracy’ ‘sishu prajatantra is in danger’ all time for excuse to do nothing. Once they won in the elections, they avioded going to the constituency at all. They gathered in Kathmandu to make money. The promise was the same – people’s rule! Nothing has changed. As it was in Panchayat, everything was the same… except the actors were different.
Then the Maoists revolution started. With the Maoists revolution, the new industry of Human Rights also started. All the corrupt became human-rights activists. Devendra Pandey was very corrupt amassing millions, but he became leading rights activist. Krishna Pahadi was mandale in Biratnagar, but was (and is) considered leading human rights activist. Shambhu Thapa corrupted the whole judiciary to win cases in the Supreme Court; but he became leading legal luminary. In this respect, common citizens became frustrated and they have had lost hope and faith.
Will it be any different now? It will not be any different. It will be as same as before. There is nothing to cheer about.
when i see the comments in this site..,
in whatever ways,people who visit this site are getting political conciousness..
nothing more than political conciousness has been achieved from jana-aandolan-2 for general nepalese…though ministers have already achieved their targets
I heared guys like Kushal, Basanta etc being not satisfied Nepal being secular. They say about Hindu and Buddhist generally they support both religion and group. Since Nepal is a birth place of Gautam Buddha and every Nepali(including Buddhist, Hindu) is proud to introduce foreigner saying that, Will those guys be happy if Nepal is called a Buddhist country?
Kushal said about Nepalese killed in Iraq. When those Nepalese were killed with them other Pakistani was also killed who were muslim. Terrarist don’t have any religion or respect to other religion and people.
Dear BetterNepal,
there are two kinds of Muslims; Sunni and Shia
Their differece is 0000000000000000000000.000000000000001% only but because of this difference, they explode bombs into each other’s mosques. They do not TOLERATE any difference. The Pakistanis who were killed were Sunni and not Shia. So the Iraqi Muslims who were Shia butchered them.
If Nepali people want to convert to Islam, they should all choose Sunni because all neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan are Sunni.
Read recent news in Pakistan, any time, just log on, you will see every week mosques bombarded by suicide jihadists belonging to either of the groups.
They may be able to convert the whole world but they can never convert each other because of their belief in 0000000000000000.0000000001% difference.
Nepali people are very broadminded. It doesn’t matter to us. We don’t care about our religion; it is okay to convert but once you enter, it is like entering Mafia. You won’t realize until you are IN.
from a coutry in the Middle East
UWB: The content of this comment was deleted because it was posted more than once in this site.
@betterNepal
Since Nepal is a birth place of Gautam Buddha and every Nepali(including Buddhist, Hindu) is proud to introduce foreigner saying that, Will those guys be happy if Nepal is called a Buddhist country?
I would prefer hindu-buddhist country as official status if buddhist people are unhappy with hindu tag. It is much much more acceptable than declaring secular.
Layman, where in this article does it say that this journalist is in favor of rebellion? I fail to see why you dislike western journalists reporting on issues like these. I can’t think of any better way to help victims of genocide or totalitarianism than to report on it. To dismiss these efforts because he is not reporting on Gitmo or whatever is to miss the point. PLENTY of people are reporting on Gitmo. But there is very little reporting on subjects like the Maoist insurrection in Nepal. Despite what you say there is far greater transparency in America than in any 3rd world country I can think of.
The reason everyone is not freaking out about Israel having nukes is because Israel has never threatened to use them and because it is not current news. Iran’s attempt to get nukes is not being reported on because there they are victims of a double standard but because it is seen as an influential and dangerous event.
Great site!!
[…] Related Blogs: 1. Backpack Journalist: Kevin Sites In Kathmandu […]
[…] Related Blogs: 1. Backpack Journalist: Kevin Sites In Kathmandu […]
I think i have fallen in love with you now
Looking by the Art view………thumbs up for kevin……
Peace Nepal
dear nepali brothers,
your country is in difficult condition because of foolish maoists who thinks they can make nepalese happy but if any communist party comes to power in nepal there will be worst future for this great country. because their policy and thinking is outdated and failure. communism is kicked out in 36 countries around the globe. if communism comes to power it will be bad luck for this great culturally rich country of nepal. nepal should be made as republic with state religion hinduism and constitutional monarchy, there lies the future of nepal. there should be two party system like USA and there should ban on conversions.
i appeal every nepalese to defeat all the communist parties in the coming elections. long live this great hindu land.
yours.
d h lawrence
dear nepali
we are in trape of Muslim – Maoist nexus. Unfortunatly we people himself supported now these people are making fool of us. Now we are not hindu country. This has been done with india long years ago. They are feeling the heat of this absence HINDU identity. The muslims and other religion capture their land. we nepali should ready for this. Due to king only we should not ready for this blody seclurisiam. The india becomes the potato country becouse of this seclurisiam. Basically we nepali are hindu. Even in india we have recived respect becouse of HIDNDUISAM now we are no where.
SO DEAR ALL NEPALI SHOULD TAKE THE OTH THAT TO RETURN THE STATUS OF ONLY HINDU COUNTRY. WE DON’T MIND WHETHER KING WILL REMAIN OR NOT BUT WE ARE HINDU OUR FORFATHERS WERE HINDU.
HINDU NEPAL, JAI NEPAL, ONE NEPAL, GREAT NEPAL, SUNDER NEPAL,
JAI PASHUPATI NATH
A NEPALI – FROM USA
Hi Everybody !!!! ….. I am an Indian Journalist and will be visiting Kathmandu for covering the CA polls . Can anybody help me in my work in Kathmandu PLEASE ? Will be in Kt.mandu frm 7/4 to 12/4. My mail id is indray721@yahoo.com thanks everybody ……… jyotiprakash khan , kolkata , india
If i was in nepal i would have helped Mr Khan, unfortunately, in me in scotland. sorry!
By the way Kevin, you look so sexy! wanna friendship?
Isn’t it surprising how the whole country, 27 million people, could be so WRONG
[…] Related Blogs: 1. Backpack Journalist: Kevin Sites In Kathmandu […]
I jսst like the valuable info you supplу in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and test аgain here regularly.
I am fairlу sure I will learn lots օf new stuff proper right
here! Best of luck for the following!
I don’t even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this submit was
once great. I don’t recognize who you are but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger should you aren’t already.
Cheers!
I’m extremely inspired along with your writing talents as neatly
as with the structure in your weblog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you customize it yourself?
Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is uncommon to see a great weblog like this one nowadays..
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme
in our community. Your site provided us with valuable information to work on.
You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I am happy that you simply shared this
helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like
this. Thanks for sharing.
Hello! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog
platform are you using for this website? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m
looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if
you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this web page is
really nice.
Even a service oriented business will need some outlay of cash in the beginning.
This article is about generating sales with articles. When I get asked what is the quickest way to make money online I start to sigh.
It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you simply shared this useful info with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking
for. can you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs?
I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write with regards to
here. Again, awesome weblog!
There are the largest culprits. You may find this best diet
pill for obese women difficult at first but you
find one of these pills are fast weight loss goals.
Soak a handful of researchers trying to experience fast weight loss aim, these are some helpful tips and use them.
Having whey before a meal in the morning, you can’t eliminate tempting treats, at the same diet with regular exercise, drink water many times a day first and should have your ideal body weight.
I am not certain the place you’re getting your info, however great topic.
I needs to spend a while learning more or figuring out more.
Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this
information for my mission.
I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your content.
Your article has truly peaked my interest. I will take a note of your blog and keep checking for new information about
once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
For newest news you have to go to see world-wide-web and on web I found
this site as a best web site for latest updates.
By choosing a organization that offers this form of Pakistani wedding ceremony ceremony apparel providers, you can obtain:Great components –
you can entry a large array of desirable components that can be designed use of on their
individual or jointly to construct an astounding outfit,
whether or not you’re the bride, the groom or an critical member of the mates and family.
Permit the videographer know you have spoken with other
community distributors and the value individuals vendors are keen to charge you as very
well as the offer details. Locate an ideal
e book that has ideal wedding day rates or speeches.
Hello! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this
post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this.
I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read.
Many thanks for sharing!
Thanks for finally talking about >Backpack Journalist: Kevin Sites In Kathmandu | United We Blog!
for a Democratic Nepal <Loved it!
Terrific post however , I was wondering if you could write a
litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could
elaborate a little bit more. Many thanks!
It’s really very complicated in this full of activity
life to listen news on TV, so I simply use world wide
web for that purpose, and take the latest news.
Although background concentrations of plasma immune and
inflammatory skin conditions. The second type invested in gold of jewelry experience.
The invested in gold host Germans finished in third place overall in the St.
Gold has shown zero correlation with the invested in gold gifts even more robust.
The Clover room also has a fineness stamp 417, 583, etc.
Shows that they expect gold prices will come across
coins marked either with the comfort ability of the purchaser.
whoah this blog is wonderful i really like reading your posts.
Keep up the great work! You know, a lot of people are looking round for this info, you could help them greatly.