What goes into a field report? Q&A with our reporter Asami Terajima (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members ,

This is Brooke, and I’m the community manager here at the Kyiv Independent.

We’ve been thinking of ways to show our readers, who don’t yet support the Kyiv Independent, what actually goes into reporting the news and why supporting independent media in Ukraine really matters. We also thought that you – our community members – might be interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how we bring you the news.

Earlier this month, I had a conversation with my colleague (and friend) Asami Terajima, one of the reporters who routinely travels to the front line, spending anywhere from a week to a month there. I asked her about what goes into a field report, so we could share it with our readers, and here’s what Asami had to say:

(This interview has been edited for clarity.)

Brooke: When you report in the field, what goes into planning that trip?

Asami: I usually pitch several story ideas that I want to do in my upcoming trip, and how many days, or weeks, this would require. Usually, I at least have some contacts who are already fighting on the front line. It’s very difficult for [soldiers] to plan in advance because they don’t know the schedule for the next day, or what they will be assigned to do in the next few hours.

There’s a limit as to what you can do in Kyiv to prepare, because everything can change last minute.

B: In terms of equipment, what do you bring with you?

A: Obviously I have to bring a bulletproof vest and helmet – that’s a must. And a first aid kit. Other than that, I usually just bring a backpack with me. It’s kind of big, but I usually also carry it when I go to the front line as well.

Actually, last time I made the mistake of bringing one pair of pants. I was there for three weeks, and I got them so dirty in the beginning. I couldn’t wash them because I needed the pants. I was in a hotel, and my room didn’t have a bathroom. You know, it’s a cheap one, so the shower is outside. I made that mistake, so next time I will have to bring two pairs of pants. I learned that the hard way.

I also bring souvenirs to soldiers who I already worked with or who I’m friends with. They’ve already asked for two Kyivskyi cakes from Kyiv, from Roshen – and I also brought packets of filter coffee. They like coffee, but they only have “three in one coffees” which are like instant ones, not as good.

B: What challenges do you face in terms of access to information?

A: [Soldiers] keep to themselves until you show them that they can trust you. Sometimes it takes even days for them to actually open up, to tell you the deepest things that they’re feeling, or what they really saw on the front line.

I think they have been sort of taught to hide the brutal parts from the public.

My goal as a journalist is to always make them feel comfortable talking to me. I think that most of [the soldiers] were civilians until the full-scale war – it’s important to treat them as humans.

B: What motivates you to go and report on the front line? Why do you choose to pitch these stories?

A: I think this is what I can do best right now to help both the Kyiv Independent and Ukraine reveal the truth about the war.

What really makes my day is what soldiers tell me – they’re always thanking me for showing the truth about the war and sharing what they’re really going through every single day on the front line. They often feel like people are forgetting about the war in Kyiv and other places in Ukraine.

The friendships that I make are also something. I think in the most brutal moments of the war, in the most difficult moments in life, you meet the best people.

You can find Asami’s reporting here.

We want to say thank you for your support. When you support the Kyiv Independent, you help us cover the costs of sending a reporter to the front line. It’s thanks to members like you that our work is funded.

We also want to know, would you be interested in more behind-the-scenes of how the news is produced? If so, please let us know by leaving a comment below, messaging us on Patreon, or reaching out to me at brooke@kyivindependent.com.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

Best,

Brooke