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Alex Crawford: ‘Be alert about Ebola but will it kill half of Reading? No’ Alex Crawford: ‘Be alert about Ebola but will it kill half of Reading? No’
(about 5 hours later)
In early October Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford and her crew filed a report from Liberia in which they went out with recovery teams collecting the bodies of dead Ebola victims.In early October Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford and her crew filed a report from Liberia in which they went out with recovery teams collecting the bodies of dead Ebola victims.
Other news organisations, aware of the risk of catching the virus from dead bodies, gaped in awe at the footage.Other news organisations, aware of the risk of catching the virus from dead bodies, gaped in awe at the footage.
Despite their bravery the Sky team were, according to Crawford, treated as “social pariahs” by some on their return and “that was quite difficult for us all when we came back”. Like US nurse Kaci Hickox, she viewed isolation for three weeks as unnecessary, and she went straight on to covering the Oscar Pistorius trial after returning to her base in South Africa. But there were some negative comments on social media and she found people she had sat next to for months suddenly putting “wedges in between” her and them.Despite their bravery the Sky team were, according to Crawford, treated as “social pariahs” by some on their return and “that was quite difficult for us all when we came back”. Like US nurse Kaci Hickox, she viewed isolation for three weeks as unnecessary, and she went straight on to covering the Oscar Pistorius trial after returning to her base in South Africa. But there were some negative comments on social media and she found people she had sat next to for months suddenly putting “wedges in between” her and them.
She also had to cancel a family holiday with friends because they were concerned about infection, while her crew were asked by their partners to sleep in different rooms. “My colleagues were hugely cheered if anyone gave them a hug or whatever because they felt like outcasts, it was quite hard to cope,” she recalls.She also had to cancel a family holiday with friends because they were concerned about infection, while her crew were asked by their partners to sleep in different rooms. “My colleagues were hugely cheered if anyone gave them a hug or whatever because they felt like outcasts, it was quite hard to cope,” she recalls.
Opinion remains divided over the 21-day incubation period, with some media companies insisting their staff stick to it. Crawford convinced her bosses she did not need it: “Unless there was a reason for us to go into quarantine I said there’s no way I’m going to go three weeks in quarantine. They said ‘OK fine, no problem’.Opinion remains divided over the 21-day incubation period, with some media companies insisting their staff stick to it. Crawford convinced her bosses she did not need it: “Unless there was a reason for us to go into quarantine I said there’s no way I’m going to go three weeks in quarantine. They said ‘OK fine, no problem’.
“It is to pacify people who are ignorant. Just because people are a bit scared – it’s ridiculous, we’re going back to the Dark Ages. If I thought I was putting other people in danger, particularly the people I love most, don’t you think I’d take those precautions? Of course I would. I’m not going to be put into three weeks of seclusion because of people who don’t even understand the bleeding facts.”“It is to pacify people who are ignorant. Just because people are a bit scared – it’s ridiculous, we’re going back to the Dark Ages. If I thought I was putting other people in danger, particularly the people I love most, don’t you think I’d take those precautions? Of course I would. I’m not going to be put into three weeks of seclusion because of people who don’t even understand the bleeding facts.”
When we spoke, the 51-year-old was still within the 21-day period and “fighting fit”. Her family “were concerned” about her going to Liberia but “people take their cue quite a lot from you” and her husband Richard, a former journalist, had researched Ebola and trusted her judgment. When we spoke, the 51-year-old was still within the 21-day period and “fighting fit”. Her family “were concerned” about her going to Liberia but “people take their cue quite a lot from you” and her husband Richard, a journalist, had researched Ebola and trusted her judgment.
Having been the correspondent who trumped rivals by riding into Tripoli with Libyan rebels in 2011 and came under fire during a counterattack by Colonel Gadaffi’s troops, was she scared going into Liberia?Having been the correspondent who trumped rivals by riding into Tripoli with Libyan rebels in 2011 and came under fire during a counterattack by Colonel Gadaffi’s troops, was she scared going into Liberia?
“It’s a very different ball game because it was mostly trying to contain other people’s fear. Even within my own team.” She told them she was “not at all worried” because they took “extraordinary precautions”.“It’s a very different ball game because it was mostly trying to contain other people’s fear. Even within my own team.” She told them she was “not at all worried” because they took “extraordinary precautions”.
“My team were amazing, they were incredibly brave and determined – they really wanted to do it justice, they did some incredible work in some really horrendous circumstances. But were we scared of dying? No.” She adds: “There’s a real fear obviously, even when you have all the facts. But does it compare to anything like bombs going off and bullets? That’s just absolute out of control anarchy. Whereas with this I felt we had some sort of control. I felt the odds were on our side.”“My team were amazing, they were incredibly brave and determined – they really wanted to do it justice, they did some incredible work in some really horrendous circumstances. But were we scared of dying? No.” She adds: “There’s a real fear obviously, even when you have all the facts. But does it compare to anything like bombs going off and bullets? That’s just absolute out of control anarchy. Whereas with this I felt we had some sort of control. I felt the odds were on our side.”
As well as wearing “claustrophobic” layers of personal protective clothing, they were advised on precautions to take by doctors and the body recovery team they were with. At times, with the heat and clothing, it felt “like you’re drowning, it feels like you’ve been waterboarded – you’re sweating and you’re anxious, everything is quite suffocating” but they were told not to touch anything or put their hands under their visors to wipe sweat off their faces.As well as wearing “claustrophobic” layers of personal protective clothing, they were advised on precautions to take by doctors and the body recovery team they were with. At times, with the heat and clothing, it felt “like you’re drowning, it feels like you’ve been waterboarded – you’re sweating and you’re anxious, everything is quite suffocating” but they were told not to touch anything or put their hands under their visors to wipe sweat off their faces.
“The thing is, the [western] people who have got it have made mistakes. No question.” NBC News cameraman Ashoka Mukpo had Ebola but recovered, and Crawford says those westerners who get it have an advantage over those dying in Africa as they have a better diet and immune system from “decades of good living”.“The thing is, the [western] people who have got it have made mistakes. No question.” NBC News cameraman Ashoka Mukpo had Ebola but recovered, and Crawford says those westerners who get it have an advantage over those dying in Africa as they have a better diet and immune system from “decades of good living”.
What is even more extraordinary about Crawford’s burial team report is that it was a second take. She asked the crew to go back in again (“They were like ‘What?!’”), having seen the first footage and thought “we need to go and spend more time with them because we weren’t showing what it was like to actually be them. I said I felt like [the first time] we’re just being observers. Also when you do go and do things where it’s quite a high personal risk, it’s important to do it well and you make an impact otherwise you’ve squandered an opportunity.”What is even more extraordinary about Crawford’s burial team report is that it was a second take. She asked the crew to go back in again (“They were like ‘What?!’”), having seen the first footage and thought “we need to go and spend more time with them because we weren’t showing what it was like to actually be them. I said I felt like [the first time] we’re just being observers. Also when you do go and do things where it’s quite a high personal risk, it’s important to do it well and you make an impact otherwise you’ve squandered an opportunity.”
Crawford persuaded her bosses to let her return to Liberia, after filming an earlier report in the spring, because “I thought the body retrieval thing had got to be at that stage one of the most dangerous jobs ever and it hadn’t really been covered”. Sky News managers let her but were cautious. They are “acutely aware” of risks to their staff, says Crawford, since the loss of cameraman Mick Deane in Cairo in 2013. He was Sky News’s first casualty in 25 years of broadcasting and she says the number of losses over the years at other news organisations probably explains their “reticence” to do what she did.Crawford persuaded her bosses to let her return to Liberia, after filming an earlier report in the spring, because “I thought the body retrieval thing had got to be at that stage one of the most dangerous jobs ever and it hadn’t really been covered”. Sky News managers let her but were cautious. They are “acutely aware” of risks to their staff, says Crawford, since the loss of cameraman Mick Deane in Cairo in 2013. He was Sky News’s first casualty in 25 years of broadcasting and she says the number of losses over the years at other news organisations probably explains their “reticence” to do what she did.
Crawford hopes her reports will help educate audiences about Ebola: “I think the fear in America, Britain and everywere else is out of proportion because they will get cases of Ebola, absolutely. But will it spread like it has done in Liberia? Really unlikely. You need to be alert but do you think it’s going to take over and kill half of Reading? No.”Crawford hopes her reports will help educate audiences about Ebola: “I think the fear in America, Britain and everywere else is out of proportion because they will get cases of Ebola, absolutely. But will it spread like it has done in Liberia? Really unlikely. You need to be alert but do you think it’s going to take over and kill half of Reading? No.”
She says that “in the immediate future” she wants to stay in Africa - where she grew up and lives with her husband and four children – particularly as much of her three years there so far has been taken up with the Pistorius trial, which was “tragic” but “a bit like being in a continuous Big Brother thing”. Being in a courtroom made her feel “like a caged animal”. She prefers to “be out and about and smelling the air”.She says that “in the immediate future” she wants to stay in Africa - where she grew up and lives with her husband and four children – particularly as much of her three years there so far has been taken up with the Pistorius trial, which was “tragic” but “a bit like being in a continuous Big Brother thing”. Being in a courtroom made her feel “like a caged animal”. She prefers to “be out and about and smelling the air”.
When asked if, given the kidnapping and beheading of reporters by Isis, and the deaths of other journalists in conflict zones – there is anywhere she would not go, Crawford replies: “No, I don’t think so. In fact places other people don’t go to I’m more likely to want to go to.”When asked if, given the kidnapping and beheading of reporters by Isis, and the deaths of other journalists in conflict zones – there is anywhere she would not go, Crawford replies: “No, I don’t think so. In fact places other people don’t go to I’m more likely to want to go to.”
After 25 years at Sky, could she see herself working somewhere else? After a pause she answers: “Yeah, I think so. You always like to think there will be new challenges ahead. Even if I didn’t pick up those opportunities I’d hate to think there weren’t any. You’ve got to always think there’s something ahead – more challenges, more doors to kick down.”After 25 years at Sky, could she see herself working somewhere else? After a pause she answers: “Yeah, I think so. You always like to think there will be new challenges ahead. Even if I didn’t pick up those opportunities I’d hate to think there weren’t any. You’ve got to always think there’s something ahead – more challenges, more doors to kick down.”
Having become a foreign correspondent at the age of 46, been awarded an OBE and won Royal Television Society journalist of the year four times, Crawford has become something of a role model for women in the industry. “I’m not sure I’m a particularly good role model but if it’s possible to inspire other people then that would be good, particularly women. I think quite a lot of women who are probably like me, do suffer from low self-esteem and lack of confidence and come from the point of view of ‘We don’t really deserve this’ and all sorts of things that men probably don’t feel guilty about.”Having become a foreign correspondent at the age of 46, been awarded an OBE and won Royal Television Society journalist of the year four times, Crawford has become something of a role model for women in the industry. “I’m not sure I’m a particularly good role model but if it’s possible to inspire other people then that would be good, particularly women. I think quite a lot of women who are probably like me, do suffer from low self-esteem and lack of confidence and come from the point of view of ‘We don’t really deserve this’ and all sorts of things that men probably don’t feel guilty about.”
She says when she first wanted to become a correspondent she thought “once I started having a family that virtually put the kibosh on it” as she could not see any other women doing it.She says when she first wanted to become a correspondent she thought “once I started having a family that virtually put the kibosh on it” as she could not see any other women doing it.
“If that’s broken down the barriers with employers as well as young women who are thinking ‘I’d better get it all done now because once I have children it’ll all be over’ then hopefully that’s a good thing.”“If that’s broken down the barriers with employers as well as young women who are thinking ‘I’d better get it all done now because once I have children it’ll all be over’ then hopefully that’s a good thing.”
She adds: “It’s time to take off those blinkers of men who think that women who are just entering the child-bearing years shouldn’t be taken on, or those who are of a certain age with children shouldn’t be taken on. I’m probably now entering the time when they probably think I’m thinking I must be winding down. If anyone is thinking that they shouldn’t be.She adds: “It’s time to take off those blinkers of men who think that women who are just entering the child-bearing years shouldn’t be taken on, or those who are of a certain age with children shouldn’t be taken on. I’m probably now entering the time when they probably think I’m thinking I must be winding down. If anyone is thinking that they shouldn’t be.
“If I was a bloke I’m just reaching my peak now. In America they have a totally different approach to older women working in broadcasting. It’s time Britain woke up.”“If I was a bloke I’m just reaching my peak now. In America they have a totally different approach to older women working in broadcasting. It’s time Britain woke up.”
Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae
Age 51Age 51
Education St John’s Convent, Kitwe, Zambia; Chisipite Junior and Senior schools, Harare, Zimbabwe; Cobham Hall school, Kent; Open University.Education St John’s Convent, Kitwe, Zambia; Chisipite Junior and Senior schools, Harare, Zimbabwe; Cobham Hall school, Kent; Open University.
Career 1981 trainee, Thompson Regional Newspapers - apprenticeship at Wokingham Times 1980 reporter and producer BBC Radio Nottingham, reporter and sub-editor, BBC radio and television London 1988 producer, TV-am 1989 producer, reporter and correspondent, Sky News 2005 Asia correspondent 2010 special correspondentCareer 1981 trainee, Thompson Regional Newspapers - apprenticeship at Wokingham Times 1980 reporter and producer BBC Radio Nottingham, reporter and sub-editor, BBC radio and television London 1988 producer, TV-am 1989 producer, reporter and correspondent, Sky News 2005 Asia correspondent 2010 special correspondent