Today marks the 20-year anniversary of Shock & Awe; the beginning of the Iraq War. Looking back, I have vivid memories of that day. I was a Fox News producer and had only arrived in Kuwait four days earlier. Our assignment: be prepared “in case” something happens. It did. President Bush announced the start of the war.
We spent the first few days in Kuwait City registering at the US Embassy, getting press passes and becoming familiar with what would become our new normal at our makeshift office and studio inside the Marriott Hotel. Before arriving in Kuwait, we attended a few days of survival training. Once in country, the entire team practiced drills donning gas masks in case Baghdad shot missiles carrying chemical weapons. If that happened, we would hear loud sirens warning us to put on the masks and climb to the highest floor in the hotel – as fast as possible.
It was all calm until it wasn’t on March 20, 2003. The first warning sirens blasted throughout the night and days that followed. In the beginning, each ear-piercing siren was disorienting; my heart raced; my hands struggled to put on the mask and my brain just yelled, move, move, move!
As time went on, the warning sirens lessened and working in Kuwait became more routine. We covered the daily news and events related to Operation Iraqi Freedom. After more than five weeks, it was time to shake up things. We would follow the story to Baghdad, Iraq.
In a group of large SUVs, we caravanned from Amman, Jordan to Baghdad. Nine hours crossing the desert and unsure what we could encounter. Luckily, we only saw vast stretches of flat desert and Bedouins tending their goats.
Arriving in Baghdad felt surreal. All over, we saw bombed out buildings; their shells blackened. The city traffic was insane. Let me clarify, the drivers viewed traffic signals and basic courtesy behind the wheel as mere suggestions. When we pulled up to the Sheraton Hotel, our new home, office and studio, it was chaotic.
Our studio overlooked the square where Iraqis toppled the Saddam Hussein statue. We settled in and for the next several weeks, we did live shots and traveled across the city and nearby areas covering news stories.
One thing to note, it was the very beginning of the war. Westerners were friends; liberators. We felt safe working on the streets among the Iraqis. We had our fixers and our security. But we weren’t immune to scary stuff. One day, someone shot into our hotel studio. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
By the time we had to return to our lives and newsroom in Washington DC, I wasn’t ready to leave. I had learned so much and worked alongside so many impressive people that I wanted to stay; I wanted to continue the work. Now 20 years later, I reflect on that experience in my journalism career and how it has affected my video production career. Here are eight things I learned then that still hold true today.
1-Say yes to tough projects.
Covering the start of the Iraq War was tough – in the beginning. But I kept learning new things and novel ways to approach situations and then it got better and better. My life today in video production is a pretty tame. Every once in a while, we get something challenging. It’s enjoyable to still learn something new.
2-Accept responsibility for your decision.
Live with the fact that you agreed to the assignment no matter what happens. One night in Kuwait – just when the sirens became routine – we had a bomb scare outside the hotel. A bomb squad detonated a suspicious car. I will never ever forget the deafening explosion and how the entire hotel shook. It was a false alarm but nerve-shattering scary. I took a few moments to breathe and acknowledge being there was my decision.
In Baghdad, the hotel had very little hot water, intermittent power and toilets that didn’t always flush. I had to remind myself – often – I said yes to the assignment.
Today, I say, if you agreed to the project, you can’t complain if the client is an a-hole. (For the record, my clients are nice people.)
3-Adapt to each new situation.
In the Middle East, we most often worked overnights. It took time to acclimate, but we did. We also became proficient with our gas masks in light of being sleep deprived. Siren goes off – gas mask goes on.
4-Pay attention.
Listen. Keep your head up and your eyes open. Look around. This is mandatory in a war zone and still serves me well in a corporate environment. It helps me notice nuances, understand unfamiliar concepts and ask better questions during interviews.
5-Take notes.
Not just for the script but for yourself. It’s hard to remember every moment; every detail and experience so I write down things I don’t want to forget. Looking back at 2003, I’m happy I did. Taking notes today helps me with scriptwriting and maintaining and nurturing client relationships.
6-Make friends.
You need someone who has your back. Everyone needs support. I collaborated with journalists from all over the world. People I could and did learn from. People who made my work better. And of course, friends to laugh with.
7-Have a sense of humor.
There are too many funny memories to recall but one still makes me laugh. Arriving at the Iraqi border, we stopped on the Jordanian side to obtain official passes to enter Iraq. The men on duty couldn’t pronounce my name. When they called out my name to approach the counter, the “c” came out as a “k”– Steaky. That nickname stuck for a while. In fact, some friends still call me Steaky. And it’s still funny. Today, I can’t imagine not having a few laughs during a video shoot.
8-Embrace the entire experience.
It may sound cliché but be present. It served me well then and still does.
Covering the start of the Iraq War was an experience I couldn’t pass up. It opened my eyes in so many positive ways. I left journalism soon after so I’m fairly confident I’ll never return to Iraq. I’m glad I paid attention, made friends and embraced new things. I’m glad I said, yes. The same holds true with my work today. I’m proud that I have agreed to take on exceptional video projects and look forward to many more.