William Howard Russell, an Irish Journalist for the newspaper The Times of London, changed the perspective on healthcare, journalism, and public accountability. The one whose decision made a change in war. The one who went against the Government and the army. The one who decided to report the truth rather than be in line with others.
Today, with public power, it’s not that difficult for reporters to report the truth. To question the one who should be questioned. But there is nothing like that in the. Before 1854. Everything was under the government and the army. Every statement, issue, everything got exposed. The issue that should be exposed and which shouldn’t is done by others. We all read it that Focus on the pos and ignore the Negativity.
Before 1854, William Howard Russell's report. The Reporters were not allowed to go to the war field and examine on their own. The ones who go just focused on the good perspective. They reported war as heroic and glorious. Even when reporters examined something wrong, they got pressured, and that news got controlled by the gov. The Public just knows what the government wants them to know. Public Rarely know what’s happening in the War. Going against the country’s army seems Shocked. Like, how can someone do this? That’s the reason before that. Even the army didn’t see what was wrong in there surrounding.
In 1854, during the Crimean War, he went to Crimea to report on it. He spent twenty-two months in Crimea with a Telescope, a watch, and a notebook, which he even retrieved from dead soldiers. He examined every little detail of the war and reported it honestly. The thing that got him Viral was The Honesty, which no one dared before. The Courage of reporting, which no one had before. The Handling of pressure, which no one did before. The Change which no one thought of before. The Report was published in 1856.
William Howard Russell examined that the British Soldiers were in the worst state. They were dying from diseases like cholera and typhus more than from battlefield wounds. He also see Worst Hospitals state. Hospital Mismanagement. Lack of facilities, i.e., poor supply of food, clothing, and medical supplies. Soldiers are being sent into deadly situations unnecessarily. Military mismanagement. Poor Leadership. Every Real Situation is mentioned in Russell's Report. His Report completely shows how the government betrayed the public with false reporting. How the Soldiers are suffering. How the condition is worse, and they are suffering unnecessarily. How there is an essential need for improvement.
After he came back from the Crimea and wanted to publish the Real face of War. He got criticized by Everyone. He was pressured by power to let go of this report. But his courage made him successful in what he wanted to do. At first, he got criticized by everyone. Later on, the public understood what was going on. He started to be supported. The gang set aside their differences and started helping the Army. The Army itself accepted the negligence, and the change started from here.
It’s false that one person can’t change anything. Truth dies. Everything is a myth. The right path is the toughest path, but going on the right path emerges the Right Results, no matter how much time passes.
The Changes which emerge after the Russell Report are: He changes the perspective of Reporting. He is the first one who report from the first lines and openly highlights the Military failures. He shows that everything should be done honestly and there is no need to fear power if you are the right ones. He changed the Idea of Journalism.
He reported about Medical condition in War. He influenced Florence Nightingale. His report forced the military to take immediate action, which made the hospitals better. The Medical stuff to be in the right way. Due to his influence, Nightingale travelled to Scutari with his team of nurses and helped improve the sanitation and patient care. Dramatically, things improved after that. Not many soldiers had to suffer because of negligence.
After the Russell Report, Public show severe offense on Government for what they were doing. Which make the investigation team investigate how the government handled war conditions. This action made the government withdraw from handling the war. So, the Russell Report changed.
The Russell Report didn’t mean that Britain was losing. And the army is not good enough. He was not making the public go against their own country. He clearly said: “The soldiers are brave, but they are being failed by their leaders”
The Changes can’t come immediately after the actions, whatever you do. Res need time, but only those with consistency and courage of not giving up taste the sweetness of there Efforts. Likewise, Russell Report didn’t make a change in a Night.
In 1854, t reports start appearing in The Times. At the end of 1854, some changes start happening, i.e public outrage; Florence Nightingale's mission started. In 1855-1856, hospital conditions start improving. After the war (1856 onward), the investigation started happening. Around 1860, Florence Nightingale started establishing a professional nursing training program in a special school. Decades later, The Journalism start knowing what they were capable of and what they should do.
The Report shows Everyone that the reporter's job shouldn’t be to tell everyone what the war is. In reality, it’s to tell people what is actually happening in the war. No matter how bitter it is. Everyone should know the truth.
We should also be like that in Real life. No matter how uncomfortable the truth is. Always face the truth and instead of taking it on the ego. Take actions that make things better. Own your failure. And always try to improve.
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