“11 days in Gujarat.
You are covering a story, there is no water so you are not hydrated, no home to sleep so you sleep in the graveyard.
Its cold. You sleep three hours a day. When you come to your home country, you stink of death,’ says ITN’s political editor Tom Bradby, while reflecting about his coverage of 2001 Gujarat Earthquake.
Bradby, who shot into fame after covering the first interview of Prince William and Kate after their official announcement of upcoming marriage, is more than just a royal journalist.
In 1999, he was seriously injured during the shootings at Jakarta, Indonesia while covering fierce demonstrations. Definitely, a spine chilling moment for any journalist.
‘After you survive death, two things happen. Either you think you are invincible. You just walk on the road, crossing heavy traffic, waving at everyone and yelling ‘listen, I survived a bullet. I won’t die’. Or, you lose the power of thinking that such incident will never ever happen.’ he says.
With 21 years of experience, 44 year old journalist has a very subtle demeanour in the way he talks, moves his hands and even pronounces words. Crisp, tight and direct- he just hits the nail.
“A journalist in a war zone is like an accidental tourist. There is always a dilemma. For example, you think- this is an amazing story but you know what, I can be killed,’ he says, chuckling.
A family man with evident love for his kids, he frequently brings out the need of having a family, a home.
‘There should be someone you need to return to.’ he says.
He praises John Simpson, the 67 year old BBC foreign correspondent who never gave up his professional life.
Another thing which really caught my attention was what Tom said about trust.
‘If anyone, no matter at what important position or not, confesses to me something in cofidence, I never run it as a story. Never.’ he reveals. This, he considers, is the best way to respect each other and gain trust of people.
‘At the end of the day, it is all about relationships with different people.’ he advices.
To me, Tom Bradby appeared as a man of International fame and respectable experience, who underwent challenges but speaks about them as if they were as simple as having a cup of tea. Utter brilliance in what he does, Tom deserves his niche.
shubhdachaudhary 