Episode 157: What is it like to be a journalist covering terrorism?
The so-called fifth estate – journalism, and more recently blogging and podcasting – is an important actor in a free society. They can, and do, speak truth to power, an absolute necessity for us. Working in dangerous zones comes with its own challenges, and some journalists have lost their lives while engaged in their profession. Borealis talks with award-winning UK journalist Tam Hussein who has spent years at the ‘coalface’ reporting on terrorism.
About my guest
Tam Hussein is an award winning investigative journalist and writer. His work has been recognised by the Royal Television Society Awards. Tam has spent several years in the MENA region travelling, studying, and working. He speaks five languages and holds an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies. He is currently working as a specialist producer/video journalist for various national and international broadcasters. He is the author of To The Mountains My Life in Jihad from Algeria to Afghanistan (Hurst) and Travels of Ibn Fudayl (Darf).
‘The Darkness Inside,’ an Excerpt – by Tam Hussein (substack.com)
Canadian Intelligence Eh
In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counter-terrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts, 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
About Phil Gurski
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Distinguished Fellow in National Security at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specialising in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation. He is the author of six books on terrorism, including the most recent The Peaceable Kingdom: A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the present.
