Synopses & Reviews
A collection of final dispatches by the famed journalist, including the first translation of the work that may have led to her murderAnna Politkovskaya won international fame for her courageous reporting. Is Journalism Worth Dying For? is a long-awaited collection of her final writing.
Beginning with a brief introduction by the author about her pariah status, the book contains essays that characterize the self-effacing Politkovskaya more fully than she allowed in her other books. From deeply personal statements about the nature of journalism, to horrendous reports from Chechnya, to sensitive pieces of memoir, to, finally, the first translation of the series of investigative reports that Politkovskaya was working on at the time of her murder—pieces many believe led to her assassination.
Elsewhere, there are illuminating accounts of encounters with leaders including Lionel Jospin, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, and such exiled figures as Boris Berezovsky, Akhmed Zakaev, Vladimir Bukovsky. Additional sections collect Politkovskaya’s non-political writing, revealing her delightful wit, deep humanity, and willingness to engage with the unfamiliar, as well as her deep regrets about the fate of Russia.
Review
andquot;The firsthand look of the author, who was one of the first women reporters at the Omaha World-Herald, is a memorable journey into the lives of little-known trailblazers in our society.andquot;andmdash;Creighton AlumWire
Review
"I love reading this history and being deeply grateful that I belong, even barely and peripherally, to this extraordinary cadre of Nebraska women in journalism."and#8212;Ruth Thone, Lincoln Journal Star
Review
andquot;Eileen Wirth's book is a treasure not to be missed by lovers of history, journalism or civil rights.andquot;andmdash;Book Nook, Omaha Public Library
Review
andquot;This book makes an important contribution to regional and United States womenand#39;s history and should be ready by anyone who wants to understand journalism in the Great Plains.andquot;andmdash;Tracy Lucht, South Dakota History
Review
and#8220;An inventory of inspiring and real-life stories of remarkable groundbreaking women journalists. . . . This book should resonate with women everywhere who seek to use the full range of their abilities and still lead fulfilling personal lives. And it is not just for women!and#8221;and#8212;Chuck Hagel, former U.S. senator from Nebraska
Review
and#8220;This is a must-read story of Nebraska women journalistsand#8217; efforts to gain respect and credibility in a field that was dominated by men. Wirth uses her firsthand experiences to help tell the stories of the little-known Nebraska trailblazers who preceded her. Placing the stories in the context of their eras, Wirth makes observations that will entertain and enlighten both male and female readers as she documents the progress.and#8221;and#8212;Ruth E. Brown, president of Nebraska Press Women, 2008and#8211;12
Synopsis
Eileen M. Wirth never set out to be a groundbreaker for women in journalism, but if she wanted to report on social issues instead of society news, she had no alternative. Her years as one of the first women reporters at the
Omaha World-Herald, covering gender barriers even as she broke a few herself, give Wirth an especially apt perspective on the women profiled in this book: those Nebraskans who, over a hundred years, challenged traditional feminine roles in journalism and subtly but surely changed the world.
The book features remarkable women journalists who worked in every venue, from rural weeklies to TV. They fought for the vote, better working conditions for immigrants, and food safety at the turn of the century. They covered wars from the Russian Revolution to Vietnam. They were White House reporters and minority journalists who crusaded for civil rights. Though Willa Cather may be the only household name among them, all are memorable, their stories affording a firsthand look into the history of journalism and social change.
About the Author
ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA (born 1958 in New York City) was a special correspondent for the Russian newspaper Novaya gazeta and the author of A Dirty War; A Small Corner of Hell; Putin’s Russia; and A Russian Diary. She was murdered in Moscow on October 7, 2006.