Boston Globe reporter and Tufts alumnus Pat Healy (LA'93) highlighted his experiences as an American journalist in Afghanistan when he spoke with students Tuesday night in Barnum 104. Healy, who has recently resumed his post as the higher education beat reporter for the Globe, spent November through January covering the war abroad.
Healy related experiences of living in Afghanistan in the midst of the US attack on the Taliban. Keeping with Globe policy, he was constantly accompanied by a hired translator and an armed guard during his six week stay. He said that other than being pelted with rocks and butted with a gun, he was overall not treated violently. He also noticed disparities between men and women in the area - some military men refused to talk to women, and rumors of rape were constantly circulating.
Healy said the recent murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearle by a Pakistani terrorist group made a significant impact on nearly everyone in the field of journalism, but especially those who spent time in Afghanistan. "It made younger journalists lose the feeling of looking for an adventure and experience, and made everyone more serious," he said. About eight or nine other people who were not accompanied by armed guards have been killed, he said.
Following the speech, audience questioned ranged from Healy's experiences in Afghanistan to journalism in general. Regarding the war, questions were asked about Afghanis' views on Americans, and on Healy's thoughts about the prospect of peace in the area.
Senior Stephan Lukac said the event was worthwhile, and that he valued the opportunity to hear the perspective of someone who has been in the area. "I'm very cynical about the modern media and them being honest with us in their coverage," he said. "This way, things don't get blown out of proportion."
Healy is a former Daily Editor-in-Chief and English major. His first job was at a conservative daily newspaper in New Hampshire, and he later wrote for the weekly Chronicle of Higher Education in Washington DC. But Healy missed the rush he felt when working for a daily paper, and ended up landing his "dream job" at the Globe, one of the country's most prominent newspapers.
He found his way to Afghanistan after the Globe sought volunteers to send overseas in the wake of Sept. 11. Healy said he was apprehensive about the trip, but couldn't resist taking advantage of the opportunity. After six weeks overseas, though, he said he was glad to be back.
The Jumbo Media Group, a newly-formed club for students interested in different areas in communications, brought Healy to campus. President Sarah Friedman was in charge of organizing Healy's talk, with the help Susan Eisenhower of Tufts' Communications and Media Studies program. Eisenhower keeps in touch with alumni in the media field, so when the group inquired about a speaker involved in current events and media, she directed them to Healy.
Healy, who has covered Tufts stories for the Globe, said he enjoyed being back at Tufts and reminisced about taking two classes in Barnum.
"It was a pleasure to speak here, and the questions were excellent," he said.
