Out of curiosity, I took the time to count some of the geolocations I've publicly shared over the past three years: 555. That doesn't include all the ones I've done, as some were never published or were reserved for clients.
At $20 per geolocation, that would come to $11,100.
Some victims count more than others. We see it in journalism, research, and in the stories we choose to tell. The question is not whether it happens, but what we do when we recognize it. My reflection on dehumanization and choice.
Some victims count more than others. We see it in journalism, research, and in the stories we choose to tell. The question is not whether it happens, but what we do when we recognize it. My reflection on dehumanization and choice.
Below the line, most of us do this work because we want to make the world a little better. But good intentions do not pay for bread and butter. If people want to benefit from my experience and expertise, it is only fair that we discuss collaboration and compensation.
We saw it during Afghanistan, as Bette Dam has written about, and more recently in coverage of Gaza and Iran. That does not mean we should accept or normalize this dehumanization. Read fellow dutchie Bette's article from 2021 here: substack.com/@bettedam/p-...
Many organizations, journalists and researchers, have benefited from these verifications. Some may even have won awards that relied in part on them. That is also why I share fewer geolocations publicly these days and increasingly reserve them for my own investigations.
I'd like to share this again as a reminder that ethics should be prioritized when conducting open-source research on Iran. Not everything needs to be geolocated and shared publicly. Goal is not just to verify information, but also to avoid causing harm to the people behind it.
Yes, unfortunately some victims seem to count more than others, especially in parts of the Western media. What is also clear is that media plays an important role in advancing certain foreign policy interests, even if those involved are not always conscious of it themselves.
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Chris Osieck
Reading now the Dutch translation of For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran’s Women-Led Uprising (Zusters in Iran) by my investigative partner (and dear friend) @ntabrizy.bsky.social (who should be active on here again) and her co-author Fatemeh Jamalpour.
The Israeli military has approved plans for renewed fighting in Gaza.
