From Portland to Beirut – and Beyond
By Michael Totten | Related entries in Media, The WorldAt the end of September I’m moving from Portland, Oregon to Beirut, Lebanon for six months. I’ll rent an apartment and use the city as a base to visit the rest of the region, starting with Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Jordan.
I need a break from domestic politics. So I’m setting out to write about The World instead. The first places I’m going to visit after I secure my apartment are the very places the State Department tells me not to go anywhere near: Hezbollah’s militarized state-within-a-state in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the wretched Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla. Then I’m going to Damascus so I can experience a real live Baath Party police state up close and in person.
I am not an unbiased observer, and I have no intention to write bloodlessly neutral “he said, she said� AP-style wire pieces. But I will try with all my heart to get it right and be fair.
Tech Central Station will publish my work four times per month instead of only twice. I intend to write for other publications as well, and I already have some tentative work lined up with a handful of newspapers, magazines, and online new media.
There is still room, though, for some more assignments. If you’re an editor interested in Middle Eastern political reporting, travel writing, and “muddy boots� analysis, please send me an email at michaeltotten001 at gmail dot com.
My blog will still be up and running the whole time. I do not intend to abandon it. Hardly anyone I know of has blogged from so many different countries, and I’m not going to pass up the opportunity.
If you feel so inclined, now would be a good time to hit my tip jar. I’ve never asked for money from readers before, and I sure could use it now. My income is modest, to put it mildly, and filing stories from the Middle East is no way to get rich.
Aside from packing my bags, I’m ready to go. I’ve had enough of opinionated bloviating for a while and I’m looking forward to adding to the world’s knowledge, even if ever so slightly, rather than merely adding to the world’s noise. Starting two weeks from now, everything I publish should be more worth writing and – I hope you’ll agree – more worth reading, as well.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 12th, 2005 and is filed under Media, The World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 12th, 2005 at 8:21 pm
Michael: I cannot tell you how much I admire your determination and courage. I look forward to reading your posts.
I was one of your early readers and fans.
Please be careful and come home safely.
September 12th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
I second that emotion.
Michael, you’ve been here from the beginning and your contribution has been invaluable. Always remember that discretion is the better part of valor. Although I’m sure your wife has reminded you of this more than once.
We’ll be here for you when you get back.
February 6th, 2006 at 11:11 am
Do you provide a blog feed subscription for this blog so
I can get it via email?
September 1st, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Nice theme, and it’s also good to see this great blog is getting better. Thank you, and good luck!
September 1st, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Michael
If you need some contacts in Beirut, let me know.
I was born in Beirut and still have friends there, who I am sure would be more than willing to help with accomodations etc..
November 25th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Works perfectly! Thanks for the help dear writer!