An Iraqi mother and daughter
A new video blog shows a side of Iraq few in the West ever see. Called Alive in Baghdad and based in Philadelphia, the site dispatches stories to Iraqi journalists based in Baghdad and Syria who shoot the stories that make up the site, reports ABC News.
The site is run by filmmakers Brian Conley and Steve Wyshywaniuk who are responding to a drop in Western journalists reporting in Iraq since 2003 due to safety concerns, and the lack of reporting on actual Iraqis living the war.
Says Wyshywaniuk: "If you watch most news channels, they talk about Iraqis. They don't talk to Iraqis."
The site attracts about 15,000 visitors a week, but its popularity is growing as Iraqi journalists uncover stories that other journalists cannot reach. From Iraqi husbands organizing a neighborhood night watch program, to middle school girls struggling to complete their studies, the coverage takes an immersive look into those living amidst civil war.
