Less than a year ago, the Taliban took over Afghanistan. US and NATO troops were in the process of withdrawing from the country. Then the Taliban almost overran the Afghan army. In particular, the images of people fleeing, who clung to rescue planes, are burned into many people’s memories. Antonia Rados has accompanied crises like this for over 40 years. The RTL foreign correspondent and longtime war reporter was always on the road in countries like Afghanistan, Somalia or Iran and says in the 324th episode of “Today Important”: “For the victims it is the same whether you are in Afghanistan or Ukraine”.
Reporting on wars today is different than it was back then. Especially on social media, one is almost inundated with information, says Antonia Rados: “We learn a lot, very quickly, without context, of course that wasn’t the case 40 years ago.” The advantage: You get first-hand information. But the problem is the uncertainty: is this information reliable? Rados has provided this reliable information for decades and believes that war reporting in particular should not be left to the algorithms of monopolies like Facebook: “If Facebook, Twitter and Co had to adhere to the principle that what is posted on the platform must be correct, [.. .] then we would all feel a little more comfortable.”
Whether it’s a war party, a dictator or a large tech company – unlike in the past, many no longer adhere to the existing rules, the journalist believes. She also experienced this irregularity in personal conversations. In 2011 she interviewed the then Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi: “I think with Gaddafi, but also with other interviewees I always had the feeling that those around him were very intimidated.” She noticed that not only in Libya, but also in Iran and Turkey: “There was always a circle of yes-men around him.”
Sure, opinionated, on the 12: “important today” is not just a news podcast. We set topics and initiate debates – with attitude and sometimes uncomfortable. Host Michel Abdollahi and his team of stern and RTL reporters speak to the most exciting people from politics, society and entertainment. They let all voices have their say, both the quiet and the loud. Anyone who hears “important today” starts the day well-informed and can have a well-founded say.
But despite all the criticism of these people, Rados always asked herself in her reports whether she had presented all perspectives. A question that an algorithm like Facebook will hardly ask itself. But news isn’t a hobby and facts have to be worked out, says Antonia Rados: “There’s this saying: ‘Everyone is entitled to their opinion but not to their own facts’. That’s very true.
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