Despite the dangers, Shayma did not hesitate to deploy to Wuhan. But the decision to deploy was more difficult. It took me hours of discussion with the head of planning, trying to strike a balance between the safety of our crew and the service we were offering viewers by being the first to tell the true story. Shayma and her colleagues braved the dangerous Wuhan roads and the extremely harsh precautionary measures that had been put in place. They were adamant that people should know the truth about what is happening in Wuhan. She appeared as a heroine on social media, attired in her famous ‘extravehicular,’ which showed only her confident eyes and calm voice. We received many positive comments and messages commending her pioneering spirit and Al Jazeera’s professionalism. When the dust settled, I had a virtual meeting with Shayma during the quarantine period, where I found her more enthusiastic to carry on with her work.
Shayma is not an exception from other Al Jazeera journalists. She is merely an example of their bravery and professionalism. Al Jazeera’s coverage of revolutions and wars in Gaza, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Tunisia stands as a testimony. Having faith in our mission, we act with responsibility; as we are trusted by our viewers to tell the true story on earth or in space. After all these years of delivering true messages through Al Jazeera, I came to realise the secret behind Mr Tayseer’s happiness when he handed me those letters all those years ago.
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