Eyewitness: Woman journalist in Iraq

A group of Iraqi women journalists have been collectively given the 2007 Courage in Journalism Award by the International Women's Media Foundation.

Anonymity and deception are the key to surviving as a journalist

Iraq is one of the most dangerous places in the world for reporters. More than 100 journalists have been killed since the US-led invasion in 2003 - most of them Iraqis.

Award-winner Sahar is one of those women who works for the Baghdad bureau of the American news organisation McClatchy's.

Sahar spoke to George Arney of the BBC Word Service's World Today programme. He asked why she became a journalist.

Sahar: When I thought that not enough was being said and the extent of the damage that has been done to the country is not clear - it cannot be assessed by a lot of people because they did not know what we had. If people do not know what we had, they cannot possibly know what we have lost.

George Arney: You must face particular dangers as a functioning journalist. What kind of pressures are you actually under?

my neighbours, my extended family... they have no notion of what it is I do Sahar

Sahar: The kinds of pressure that no-one would really expect. I have to stay anonymous. As soon as my face becomes known as a reporter I would be targeted. So much that is underhanded is now in Iraq, so many things are being done that are not right. To have a reporter on the scene is the last thing the people want - and when I say the people, I mean any power centres whether inside the government or outside the government, whether international or regional. You just don't know who doesn't want you to be there at that moment.

George Arney: When you say you stay anonymous, you mean that you don't let anyone know that you are a journalist, or you don't let anyone know that you are working for an American news organisation?

Sahar: Both actually. My neighbours, my family - my extended family of course - they have no notion of what it is I do.

George Arney: It must be very difficult to hide though. How do you explain your disappearances, your going off to cover a story? How do you keep that secret from friends and neighbours?

But the story has to be told and sacrifices have to be made Sahar

Sahar: This is part of the social structure falling apart. Before people used to be very connected, we are a very family oriented society. But since the war, we hardly see family members sometimes from one year to the other. If a person is smart enough and good enough to reach the McClatchy's site and access my name, he would first have to read what I have written. I depend upon and I hope that I am right in this... after he reads what I have written he will instead send me a bunch on roses.

George Arney: So you are relying on people's intelligence and goodwill, and that they should be affected by the words that you are writing. That seems a very delicate threat to hang your on survival on.

Sahar: Yes it is very difficult and the threat is very, very real. But the story has to be told and sacrifices have to be made. George Arney: Just give us an idea of an ordinary day for you, Sahar. You are on a story. How do you go about it?

I try to mother the people at the checkpoints, using an accent not my own, sometimes wearing clothes that are not my regular clothes - a camouflage, a deception covering my personality Sahar

Sahar: The beginning of the day of course is getting to work. We leave our home and we go through checkpoints. It's not very good to be known as an intellectual... so I try to mother the people at the checkpoints, using an accent not my own, sometimes wearing clothes that are not my regular clothes - a camouflage, a deception covering my personality. Then starts the serious stuff. If there is an assignment inside the Green Zone, then it is much easier because the American reporters themselves can go in to do it. If there is an assignment outside on the streets, it is usually us who do it because we can handle a situation much better being, of course, an Iraqi.

George Arney: So how do you deal with the stress?

Sahar: I try not to think about it as much as possible. If I thought about personal safety I would sit at home and close my door and not even go out for shopping.

George Arney: I am not surprised. But when you do sit back and think about it, do you think that it is all worth it... your reasons for putting yourself at such risk?

Sahar: For me yes, yes there is justification, because the stories that are being carried are stories of statistics, not of people. If you don't get the people story in, if people don't realise that the death of Ali or Mohammad or Salem is just like the death of John or Andrew or anyone else, if that story doesn't make an appearance and a presence, no-one is going to raise their voice in an attempt to end this massacre in my country.