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Why are reporters staying at Paul’s Hotel, in the Hotel Rwanda Movie?

User Getsaf
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Final answer:

Reporters are staying at Paul’s Hotel in 'Hotel Rwanda' for safety and as a hub for reporting during the genocide. The presence of journalists signifies their important role in documenting and sharing critical events to maintain a well-informed public and support democracy. Journalistic integrity should uphold impartiality, with few exceptions like privacy or national security considerations.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the movie Hotel Rwanda, reporters are staying at Paul’s Hotel as it represents a site of relative safety and a hub for international witnesses during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Journalists are known to be at the forefront of capturing and relaying critical global events, as emphasized by the words of journalist Christiane Amanpour who regrets not giving the Rwandan genocide the coverage it deserved. Amanpour underscores the importance of the media in not only maintaining democracy but also in raising awareness about critical events that impact human lives. Her view reflects the conviction that the press has a solemn responsibility to report all that they see, as not doing so can have tragic consequences. Hence, the presence of reporters in the film is significant for portraying the real-life tensions between reporting truths and the challenges they face in crisis situations.

The stories from Kinshasa during the famous boxing match, as relayed by articles focusing on censorship like those experienced by sports writer Larry Merchant, reveal the complex relationship between the press and governmental policies that may control or restrict reporting. Moreover, the efforts by Zaire to present a modern image to the world and the strict measures against unfavorable reporting highlight the inherent conflict journalists often encounter in trying to report the full story on the ground. Journalists thus play a critical role, and despite pressures, maintain a responsibility to deliver comprehensive and unbiased news to inform the public effectively.

Despite situations where there may be governmental pressure or other forms of censorship, the ethical standards of journalism call for impartiality and comprehensive reporting. Situations that require sensitivity or consideration such as the protection of privacy or national security can be exceptional, but general journalistic integrity dictates the reporting of news without displaying partiality, as the well-informed public is an integral aspect of a functioning democracy.

User Gronostaj
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