Being a Woman in Investigative Journalism | Trafficked | National Geographic UK

National Geographic UK
14 Feb 202102:47

Summary

TLDRA journalist recounts her daring encounter with a drug operation owner in Mexico. Initially distrustful, the boss grants her access to a gun trafficking operation after a tense meeting. Despite witnessing the illegal trade, the boss remains suspicious of her identity, warning her of deadly consequences if she's law enforcement.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 **Unique Advantage**: The narrator feels being a woman provides a unique advantage in dangerous situations as they are perceived as less threatening.
  • 🌍 **Access to Criminal Operations**: The team was seeking access to a drug operation, highlighting the pursuit of exclusive stories.
  • 📱 **Communication Concerns**: There was a dilemma over whether to bring a phone, due to the risk of being mistaken for law enforcement.
  • 🕒 **Meeting Under Suspicion**: A midnight meeting was arranged with the boss of a region to discuss access, emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the encounter.
  • 🔍 **Vetting Process**: The boss was initially very suspicious and did not trust the narrator, indicating the difficulty of gaining trust in such scenarios.
  • 📸 **Proof of Work**: The narrator showed past work to establish credibility, a common practice when trying to gain access to closed groups.
  • 🚫 **Initial Rejection**: Despite the efforts, the boss did not initially grant access, showing that trust is hard to earn in these environments.
  • 📍 **Unexpected Turn**: A text with GPS coordinates the next morning indicated a change of mind, suggesting a dynamic and unpredictable situation.
  • 🔥 **Live Access to Illegal Activity**: The team was granted access to a live gun trade, illustrating the high-risk, high-reward nature of their work.
  • 🤝 **Complex Relationship**: The boss's continued suspicion but willingness to provide access reflects the complex and nuanced relationships in such scenarios.
  • ⚔️ **Threats and Protection**: The boss's statement about having men around if the narrator was law enforcement shows the constant threat and the fine line between safety and danger.

Q & A

  • What was the main reason the drug operation owner agreed to meet?

    -The owner agreed to meet because he wanted to assess the journalist personally, as he represented less of a threat.

  • Why did the journalist consider bringing a tracking device or a satellite phone?

    -The journalist considered bringing a tracking device or a satellite phone for safety reasons, but also feared it might be seen as a sign of law enforcement, which could be dangerous.

  • How did the journalist attempt to break the ice with the drug operation owner?

    -The journalist asked the owner for a cigarette to break the ice during their initial meeting.

  • Why was the journalist initially denied access to the gun trafficking operation?

    -The journalist was initially denied access because the drug operation owner was very suspicious and did not trust her, even after seeing her past work.

  • How did the journalist gain access to the gun trafficking operation after the initial meeting?

    -After the initial meeting, the journalist received a text message with GPS coordinates and a time to meet, which granted her access to the operation.

  • What was the drug operation owner's attitude towards the journalist during the gun trade observation?

    -The drug operation owner remained suspicious and did not fully trust the journalist, even while allowing her to observe the gun trade.

  • What was the owner's response when asked if he believed the journalist was a journalist after granting access?

    -The owner admitted he was still not sure if the journalist was a journalist or law enforcement, but stated that if she was law enforcement, she would not leave alive.

  • What precautions did the journalist and her team take before the meeting with the drug operation owner?

    -They debated whether to take a tracking device or satellite phone, and considered the risks of being perceived as law enforcement.

  • What was the significance of the journalist being a woman in this situation?

    -The journalist suggests that being a woman made her seem less threatening, which may have contributed to the owner's decision to meet with her.

  • How did the journalist feel about the potential risks involved in meeting the drug operation owner?

    -The journalist had to weigh the risks, including the possibility of being perceived as law enforcement, against the potential story, acknowledging that no story is worth her life.

  • What was the outcome of the journalist's meeting with the drug operation owner?

    -The outcome was that the journalist was granted access to observe the gun trade, providing her with a unique insight into the operation.

Outlines

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Drug OperationJournalismSuspicionAccessMexicoGun TraffickingTrustFemale JournalistRiskInvestigative
英語で要約が必要ですか?